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Trends in methadone-related deaths in Zurich

Patrick Johannes Laberke1, Christine Bartsch

  • 1Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Basel, Pestalozzistr. 22, 4056, Basel, Switzerland. patrick.laberke@bs.ch

International Journal of Legal Medicine
|March 30, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Methadone fatalities in Zurich (1998-2007) primarily resulted from illicit use or substitution programs, not analgesic use. Combined drug intoxication was common, with alcohol and cocaine frequently involved.

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Clinical Pharmacology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Methadone is widely used for opioid addiction treatment and increasingly as an analgesic for chronic pain.
  • Fatalities have been reported with methadone use, necessitating investigation into its safety profile.
  • Previous studies have documented methadone-related deaths, highlighting the need for ongoing surveillance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze trends in methadone-associated fatalities in Zurich from 1998 to 2007.
  • To determine the circumstances and causes of methadone-related deaths.
  • To compare findings with a previous study period (1989-1997) for a comprehensive 19-year analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of all methadone-associated deaths reported in Zurich.
  • Inclusion of data from a prior study (1989-1997) to extend the observation period.
  • Categorization of deaths based on methadone's role (substitution, illicit intake, analgesic use) and presence of co-intoxicants.

Main Results:

  • A total of 146 methadone-associated deaths were identified between 1998 and 2007.
  • The majority of deaths were linked to substitution programs or illicit methadone intake.
  • Only three deaths were attributed to methadone used as an analgesic; combined drug intoxication (76%) was frequent, with alcohol and cocaine as common co-intoxicants.

Conclusions:

  • Methadone-associated fatalities in Zurich are predominantly linked to its use in substitution therapy or illicit consumption.
  • Deaths solely due to methadone intoxication are rare, especially when used as prescribed for pain relief.
  • The high prevalence of combined drug intoxication underscores the risks associated with polydrug use in conjunction with methadone.

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