Citation

Sheedy DL, Garrick TM, Fortis AH, Harper CG. Am. J. Addict. 2003; 12(1): 52-59.

Affiliation

Department of Pathology, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia. donnas@med.usyd.edu.au

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12623740

Abstract

This 1997-1999 study replicates an earlier one (1995-1997) in which coronial cases were reviewed at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Australia. Ten percent of the 2945 cases were considered accidental illicit drug deaths, compared to 4% in the previous study. Heroin was associated with 90% of the deaths, but in only 17% of these cases as a single drug. Concomitant drug use, in particular alcohol, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants, has increased considerably. The combined effects of these substances might play a role in the disturbingly large increase in heroin (morphine) related deaths during this period.

Language: en