Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Methadone and drug addicts

K Worm1, A Steentoft, B Kringsholm

  • 1Institute of Forensic Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

International Journal of Legal Medicine
|January 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary

Methadone-related deaths in Copenhagen increased significantly from 1981 to 1989. Many fatal cases involved individuals not undergoing prescribed methadone treatment, highlighting risks associated with illicit use and overdose.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

HER2 expression and markers of phosphoinositide-3-kinase pathway activation define a favorable subgroup of metastatic pulmonary adenocarcinomas.

Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands)·2015
Same author

Valproic acid downregulates NF-κB p50 activity and IRAK-1 in a progressive thyroid carcinoma cell line.

Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme·2014
Same author

[Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis using Ziehl-Neelsen stain and polymerase chain reaction].

Der Pathologe·2013
Same author

[Glandular papilloma of the right main bronchus. Detection of an exon 2 mutation of the KRAS gene (c.35G>A)].

Der Pathologe·2012
Same author

Psychoactive substances in seriously injured drivers in Denmark.

Forensic science international·2012
Same author

Oncogenic RAS simultaneously protects against anti-EGFR antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and EGFR signaling blockade.

Oncogene·2012

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Public Health
  • Addiction Medicine

Background:

  • Drug addiction and associated mortality are significant public health concerns.
  • Methadone is a common medication used in opioid addiction treatment.
  • Monitoring drug-related deaths is crucial for understanding trends and informing public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze trends in methadone-related fatalities among drug addicts in Copenhagen.
  • To compare the prevalence of methadone in deceased individuals in 1981 versus 1989.
  • To investigate the role of methadone as a cause of death and co-occurring substances.

Main Methods:

  • Post-mortem toxicological analysis of deceased drug addicts in Copenhagen.
  • Comparison of methadone prevalence and cause of death data between 1981 and 1989.
  • Analysis of co-occurring substances, including morphine, benzodiazepines, and alcohol.

Main Results:

  • Methadone positivity increased from 16% in 1981 (94 cases) to 37% in 1989 (70 cases).
  • Methadone alone was a more frequent cause of death in 1989 compared to 1981.
  • Approximately 50% of methadone-positive cases were not undergoing prescribed methadone treatment.
  • Morphine and benzodiazepines were common co-occurring substances; alcohol was present in about 30% of methadone-positive cases.
  • Median methadone blood concentrations were higher in fatal cases (0.3 mg/kg without alcohol) than in living users (0.1 mg/kg).

Conclusions:

  • There was a notable increase in methadone-related deaths in Copenhagen between 1981 and 1989.
  • A significant proportion of fatal methadone cases involved individuals not in treatment, suggesting issues with illicit use or diversion.
  • Toxicological findings indicate higher methadone concentrations in fatal overdoses compared to therapeutic use.

Related Experiment Videos