Association of benzodiazepines with death in a major metropolitan area

Death has been examined as a possible adverse consequence of the use of benzodiazepine drugs. Rather than limit ourselves to drug overdose cases, we have analyzed unselected blood specimens by a technique sensitive enough to detect therapeutic use as well. The subpopulation thus identified was found to have a number of interesting characteristics not shared by typical coroners' cases. These features are described and discussed in detail in the text.