Deaths among narcotic addicts in Denmark in 1978 and 1979

Since 1968 the number of deaths registered among narcotic addicts has increased considerably from 9 deaths in 1968 to 121 in 1979. Data concerning 215 deaths among narcotic addicts in 1978 and 1979 examined at the three Danish University Institutes of Forensic Medicine are presented. Four-fifths of the cases were males; the average age in both males and females was 26 years. In most cases a mixed abuse was present, the predominant drug being heroin. In 27% of the cases there was an abuse of alcohol. The material was divided into two groups. Group A included 181 cases in which the cause of death was poisoning by one or more drugs. In group B (34 cases) narcomania was a contributory factor to death. The place of death, gross autopsy findings and toxicological data are reported. The manner of death was in 62% of the cases stated as accident, in 19% as suicide, in 14% as accident?/suicide?, in 3% as natural death and finally in 1% as homicide. Next to traffic accidents narcotic addiction today is the greatest single cause of death in the age group 18 - 35 years. These facts call for active political steps against narcotic addiction.