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Suicide by Fatal Pentobarbital Intoxication in Ontario, Canada, from 2012 to 2015
Patricia Solbeck1, Victoria Snowdon2, Ashwyn Rajagopalan3
1Toxicology Section, Centre of Forensic Sciences, 25 Morton Shulman Ave, Toronto, ON, M3M 0B1.
Abstract:
A fatal concentration of pentobarbital found in a coroner's case where the history had not indicated use of this drug prompted a review of fatalities in Ontario from 2012 to 2015. Coroner's case files, including police and toxicology reports, were reviewed in twenty deaths, in which pentobarbital was identified as the primary cause of death. In all of the deaths (11 females, 9 males), the blood concentration of pentobarbital was greater than 10 mg/L. There were three to eight deaths per year and each was classified as suicide. In 11 cases, there was clear evidence that the drug was purchased over the internet from Mexico or China and imported into Canada. In four cases, it appears that the pentobarbital was labeled as a different, innocuous chemical to facilitate crossing the border without scrutiny. The findings underscore the value of a thorough scene investigation, including details of evidence that may be considered unrelated.
Insights
Fatal pentobarbital (a drug) poisonings in Ontario were reviewed, revealing a concerning trend of internet-purchased drugs, often mislabeled, leading to suicide deaths. Thorough scene investigations are crucial for identifying such cases.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Public Health Surveillance
Background:
- Review of coroner's cases from 2012-2015 in Ontario.
- Investigated fatalities where pentobarbital was the primary cause of death.
Observation:
- Twenty deaths were identified, with blood pentobarbital concentrations exceeding 10 mg/L.
- All cases were classified as suicides, occurring at a rate of 3-8 deaths annually.
- Eleven deaths involved pentobarbital sourced via internet purchases from Mexico or China.
Findings:
- In four cases, pentobarbital was intentionally mislabeled as a different chemical to bypass border control.
- The study highlights the challenges in detecting illicit drug importations and their role in fatal poisonings.
Implications:
- Emphasizes the critical need for comprehensive scene investigations in suspected poisoning cases.
- Underscores the importance of monitoring internet drug sales and implementing stricter controls on imported substances.
- Suggests a potential underestimation of pentobarbital-related fatalities due to misidentification or mislabeling.
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