Citation

Tuusov J, Vals K, Tõnisson M, Riikoja A, Denissov G, Väli M. J. Forensic Leg. Med. 2013; 20(1): 51-56.

Affiliation

Estonian Forensic Science Institute, Tervise 30, 13419 Tallinn, Estonia; University of Tartu, Ülikooli 18, 50090 Tartu, Estonia. Electronic address: jana.tuusov@ekei.ee.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jflm.2012.04.023

PMID

23217376

Abstract

The aim of this study is to provide an overview of deaths caused by poisoning (especially illicit drugs) in Estonia from 2000 to 2009. The data on poisoning deaths (N = 4132) were collected from the autopsy reports of the Estonian Forensic Science Institute. Ethanol poisoning was the most frequent cause of death (N = 1449, 35.1%), followed by carbon monoxide (N = 1151, 27.9%) and poisoning from illicit drugs (N = 888, 21.5%). The study included 3267 male (79.1%) and 865 female fatalities, with the prevalent age group being 35-64 years. Since 2002, deaths from fentanyles have increased sharply and remained at a high level - from 63 cases in 2002 to 138 cases in 2009. This high number indicates that in spite of the state's drug policies, illegal drugs remain easily available and that this area requires more attention. Alcohol abuse prevention policies - restrictions on alcohol advertisements in the media, limitations on sale times and anti-alcohol campaigns concerning traffic - have not brought about a significant decrease in ethanol poisoning.

Language: en