Accidental fatal drug overdoses in New York City: 1990-1992

This study of all accidental fatal drug overdoses (N = 1,986) in New York City from 1990 to 1992, using medical examiner data, found that cocaine, often with opiates and ethanol, caused almost three-fourths of deaths, while opiates without cocaine caused roughly one-fourth of fatal overdoses. Only 5% of accidental drug fatalities were caused by drugs other than cocaine or opiates. This is a marked departure from the results of studies in the early 1980s when opiates prevailed as a cause of accidental fatal overdoses. In this study the highest cocaine overdose rates were found among males, African-Americans, and Latinos. Rates of opiate overdose without cocaine did not differ in regard to race/ethnicity except for low rates among Asians and other ethnic groups. There was a marked increase in the rate of combined cocaine and opiate overdoses from 1990 to 1992 and a more gradual but steady increase of overdoses due to opiates without cocaine during that time period. Overdoses due to drugs other than cocaine or opiates showed no increase during that time period.