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Unnatural deaths among drug abusers
Gerd Jorunn Møller Delaveris1, Svetlana Konstantinova-Larsen2, Sidsel Rogde3
1Avdeling for rettspatologi og klinisk rettsmedisin Folkehelseinstituttet.
Summary
Unnatural deaths related to drug abuse, excluding overdoses, are underreported. These deaths, often accidents or suicides, differ in demographics and circumstances from typical overdose fatalities.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Public Health
- Mortality Studies
Background:
- Drug abuse contributes to various mortality types beyond overdose deaths.
- Unnatural deaths linked to drug abuse require further investigation.
- Autopsy findings offer insights into drug-related mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of unnatural deaths with detected drugs in autopsy blood.
- To characterize these deaths, distinguishing them from overdose statistics.
- To analyze demographic and circumstantial variations in drug-related unnatural deaths.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 1,338 forensic autopsy reports (2000-2005) from Southern Norway.
- Inclusion criteria: ages 20-59, unnatural death (accident, suicide, homicide), and positive post-mortem blood drug findings.
- Data collected: gender, age, cause/manner of death, circumstances, and police district.
Main Results:
- The study included 1,338 individuals, with a mean age of 34; 81% were male.
- 322 deaths were accidents (excluding intoxication), suicides, or homicides.
- Accidental intoxications constituted the remainder, aligning with overdose statistics.
Conclusions:
- Unnatural deaths during drug use, not classified as accidental poisonings, are underreported.
- These deaths represent a significant portion of drug-related mortality.
- Demographic and circumstantial differences exist between these deaths and accidental poisonings.
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