Related Experiment Videos
[Fatalities associated with methadone administration in the Geneva canton (1987-1993)]
1Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universität Genf.
Archiv Fur Kriminologie
|July 1, 1995
Summary
Methadone use was associated with 41 deaths in Geneva between 1987-1993. Overdose deaths often involved heroin, while other fatalities linked to methadone involved benzodiazepines, alcohol, or recent release from prison.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
- Public Health
Context:
- Methadone is a synthetic opioid used for pain management and opioid addiction treatment.
- Its use requires careful monitoring due to potential risks.
Purpose:
- To analyze methadone-associated mortality in Geneva from 1987 to 1993.
- To identify risk factors and circumstances contributing to these deaths.
Summary:
- 41 methadone-associated deaths were recorded in Geneva between 1987 and 1993.
- Deaths resulted from heroin overdose with methadone (11 cases), methadone as the sole cause (24 cases), or methadone contributing to other causes of death (6 cases).
- Risk factors included concurrent use of benzodiazepines (11 cases), alcohol (8 cases), recent release from prison (8 cases), and participation in Methadone Maintenance Schemes (10 cases, none in the first two weeks).
Impact:
- Highlights the importance of risk management in methadone treatment.
- Informs public health strategies for opioid addiction and pain management.
- Underscores the dangers of polydrug use, particularly with benzodiazepines and alcohol, in conjunction with methadone.