Citation

Kohler H, Halbeisen M, Battista HJ, Wolfle R, Schett P, Haller R. Wiener Zeitschrift fur Suchtforschung 1998; 21(4): 63-75.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

As the drug problem is more serious in Vorarlberg, the westernmost Province of Austria, than it is in the rest of the federal territory, it is not surprising that the number of drug victims is relatively high. In a surveillance of all deaths associated with drugs the data collected were analyzed with regard to age, sex, social situation, physical condition, preferred drugs, contact with consultation and treatment services, replacement therapy, toxicology, and causes of death. Difficulties arising from differences in the use of the terms 'drug death' and 'drug victim', respectively, are discussed in detail. Out of 179 deaths, 88 were directly attributable to the poisoning with illicit drugs, 27 were suicides, 19 were due to the overdosage of medication, 19 to AIDS, and 26 persons had died through other circumstances. The overall drug mortality has been decreasing since 1994. During the past three years, deaths due to multisubstance intoxication-particularly benzodiazepines and prolonged-action morphine preparations have significantly increased. The cause of this development and possible countermeasures are discussed.

Language: de

Keywords

3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; age; alcohol; amphetamine; antidepressant agent; article; Austria; benzodiazepine derivative; cannabis; cause of death; cocaine; codeine; disease association; drug abuse pattern; drug dependence; drug fatality; drug intoxication; drug overdose; health program; human; illicit drug; methadone; morphine; morphine derivative; mortality; multiple drug abuse; neuroleptic agent; prevalence; psychedelic agent; psychopharmacotherapy; sex difference; socioeconomics; suicide