[Fatalities associated with methadone administration in the Geneva canton (1987-1993)]

In Geneva 41 deaths associated with methadone have been observed between 1987 and 1993. In 11 cases death was caused by heroin overdose in combination with methadone. In 6 other cases (natural death, hanging, murder, road accident, drowning and burning) methadone, although in feeble doses, could have played a role in the circumstances leading to death. In 24 other cases, where methadone was the sole cause of death, 10 of these were in individuals participating in Methadone Maintenance Schemes, but none in the first two weeks of the scheme, 8 occurred in the year following release from prison (3 less than two weeks after release), 11 were associated with a parallel intake of benzodiazepines and 8 with an intake of alcohol.