Citation

Lemos YV, Wainstein AJA, Savoi LM, Drummond-Lage AP. J. Forensic Leg. Med. 2019; 65: 55-60.

Affiliation

Faculdade Ciências Médicas de Minas Gerais, Alameda Ezequiel Dias 275, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30110-130, Brazil; Instituto Médico Legal de Belo Horizonte, Rua Nícias Continentino 1291, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30510-160, Brazil. Electronic address: anapdru@gmail.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jflm.2019.05.008

PMID

31103924

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The use of illicit drugs is considered a risk factor for victimization by lethal violence and is frequently found in necropsies of homicide victims. This study aimed to evaluate the profile of these victims.

METHODS AND MATERIAL: A cross-sectional retrospective study was performed on homicide victims in 2014 with a sample composed of all homicide cases in 2014 for which toxicology had been performed in an Official Forensic Laboratory (Minas Gerais- Brazil).

RESULTS: 1382 homicide victims composed the sample. The group with a positive toxicology test (N = 943) presented higher proportions of men (p = 0.003), black/brown skin (p < 0.001), firearm history (p = 0.007) and a lower mean age (p < 0.001). In 72.2% of the positive tests, cocaine and benzoylecgonine were found; in 67.7%, THC and/or its metabolite was found; and in 43.1%, both illicit drugs were found.

CONCLUSIONS: The role of illicit drugs in early death goes far beyond intoxication as they are directly associated with age, skin color and gender. Young black/mixed men have an increased risk of homicide. Our findings point to the importance of investing in social actions, public safety and efforts to reduce drug use in this at-risk population.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Forensic medicine; Forensic toxicology; Homicides; Illicit drugs; Legal medicine; Violence