Citation

Darke S, Duflou J, Kaye S. Addiction 2007; 102(11): 1793-1797.

Affiliation

National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.01980.x

PMID

17784895

Abstract

Aims To compare the blood toxicology of heroin overdose cases and morphine positive homicide victims. Design Analysis of coronial cases. Setting Sydney, Australia. Cases A total of 705 cases of death due to opioid toxicity and 28 morphine positive homicide cases (1 January 1998-31 December 2002). Findings There was no significant difference between the median morphine concentrations of the overdose and homicide groups (0.50 versus 0.45 mg/l). The overdose group was more likely to have blood alcohol (OR 3.21) present, but less likely to have methadone (OR 0.26) and cannabis (OR 0.04). There was a significant negative correlation between blood morphine and alcohol concentrations among the overdose group (rho = -0.32), but not among the homicide group (rho = -0.03). Independent predictors of a higher blood morphine concentration were a lower alcohol concentration and a higher methadone concentration. Conclusions Morphine concentrations per se are not diagnostic of overdose. The study confirms the salience of concomitant alcohol consumption in such events.

Language: en