Self-poisoning with dextropropoxyphene and dextropropoxyphene compounds: the USA experience

This survey continues and expands earlier studies (Finkle et al., 1976a, b). A total of 27 medical examiner or coroner offices across the USA and Canada were visited. The combined jurisdictional population of these 27 sites is 64.8 million people: 56.5 million people in the USA (27% of the US population) and 8.3 million in Canada (Ontario). Since 1969 through mid-1983, a total of 4412 cases provided information sufficient for inclusion in this study. In each of the cases the presence of propoxyphene, and often its major metabolite, in the blood or tissues of the deceased was confirmed by toxicological analysis at the survey site. The following is a summary of the survey findings: The incidence of propoxyphene-associated deaths reached a peak in 1977, then declined by 22.2% from 1977 to 1978 and by 33.3% from 1978 to 1979, and by a further 10-18% since then. This continuing decline has occurred despite increased interest in propoxyphene misuse and the existence of improved analytical methods for the detection of propoxyphene and its metabolites. The decline is greater than can be accounted for by the decline in propoxyphene prescribing. The most common manner of death was suicide, accounting for about 45% of the cases; it can be safely assumed that the suicides were under-reported. A large majority of the suicides involving propoxyphene were multiple-drug intoxications, including alcohol. Propoxyphene alone was noted in about one-sixth of the suicides. These findings confirm those of the earlier studies, i.e., that a high proportion of the deaths associated with propoxyphene are suicides, and, in most cases, the deceased were victims of multiple-drug toxicity. More than 90% of cases involved persons between the ages of 20 and 40 years. There were very few instances of paediatric, adolescent or older adult deaths associated with propoxyphene. There is no evidence to support the view that the deceased were part of the street drug-abuse population. A history of heroin abuse appeared in less than 5% of the cases. Even fewer people had been known to have abused propoxyphene before their deaths, but 18% of the population had been known to 'self-medicate', using multiple drugs without appropriate medical supervision. The distribution of males to females approximated that of the US population.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)