Izvorni znanstveni članak
Drug Related Deaths in the Split-Dalmatia County 1997–2007
Ivana Marasović Šušnjara
Ankica Smoljanović
Marija Definis Gojanović
Sažetak
Drug overdoses are a major cause of mortality for drug users and, in many countries, are the leading cause of death
in this group. The aim of the present study is to explore the frequency of all drug related deaths in the Split-Dalmatia
County in the period between 1997 and 2007 and to analyze some of the characteristics of these deaths to help target preventive
policies. The data on drug related deaths were collected using records from the Department of Forensic Medicine,
Clinical Hospital Centre Split, University of Split, School of Medicine. There were 190 drug related deaths in the observed
period of 11 years. Statistically significant difference (p=0.004, c2-test for trend) was found in the number of
deaths in 1997 in comparison with the number of deaths in 2007. The majority of 105 (55%) the decedents were 25–34
years old, and 92.1% (175) of them were male. There was a 94% higher probability of mortality in the 25–34 years group
(c2=5.55, p=0.064). Average age of all dead people was 31.01±7.59 years (median 31.0 years; range 18–49). Almost three
quarters of the decedents were single and more than three fifths hadn’t been employed. The most common location of
death was at home. Approximately, 80% were autopsied followed by full histological and toxicological analyses. Out of
all examined cases, the majority of drug related deaths (93 or 60.8%) were attributed to heroin. Heroin was the sole cause
of death in 35 (22.9%) cases. Methadone was cause of death in 24 (15.7%) cases. 3.4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine
(MDMA) deaths were rare (3.3%). Cocaine deaths were also rare (1.3%). Three fifths (55.6%) of the cases involved includes
multi-substance use. During the investigation there was an evident trend towards multi-substance abuse patterns.
These data suggest that interventions to prevent drug related mortality should address the use of drugs such as heroin
and alcohol in combination.
Ključne riječi
drug related death; epidemiology; forensic autopsy; heroin; alcohol; toxicology
Hrčak ID:
72180
URI
Datum izdavanja:
30.9.2011.
Posjeta: 765 *