TY - JOUR
T1 - Cause and manner of death in drug-related fatality
T2 - An analysis of drug-related deaths recorded by coroners in England and Wales in 2000
AU - Webb, Lucy
AU - Oyefeso, Adenekan
AU - Schifano, Fabrizio
AU - Cheeta, Survjit
AU - Pollard, Mike
AU - Ghodse, A. Hamid
PY - 2003/10/24
Y1 - 2003/10/24
N2 - This study investigated causes and manner of drug-related fatalities recorded in 2000 in the United Kingdom, measuring the 'masked' manner of death in cases typically recorded as overdose. A retrospective cohort study was used of 1037 cases of accidental drug-related fatalities reported by coroners in England and Wales to the National Programme of Substance Abuse Deaths. Whilst 802 cases were identified as direct acute overdose, representing 77% of the total accidental deaths, 23% of 'overdose' fatalities were caused by asphyxiation (7%), drug-related medical conditions (7%), non-drug-related conditions (4%), traumatic accidents (3%) and infections (2%). Younger people show higher risk of overdose and asphyxiation; older people show higher risk from pre-existing medical conditions. This study not only confirmed the high risk of overdose associated with heroin and polydrug use, but it also identified other high fatality risk factors for heroin/morphine users such as contracting an acute infection leading to septicaemia or endocarditis, or contracting a chronic infection such as HIV, HBV or HCV. In contrast, stimulants particularly featured in traumatic accidents, with amphetamine use most associated with cardio-vascular fatality. These findings highlight the 'masked' manner of death in cases commonly recorded as overdose and demonstrate the need for a more-detailed and systematic method of recording drug-related deaths in order to inform drug education and harm reduction strategies.
AB - This study investigated causes and manner of drug-related fatalities recorded in 2000 in the United Kingdom, measuring the 'masked' manner of death in cases typically recorded as overdose. A retrospective cohort study was used of 1037 cases of accidental drug-related fatalities reported by coroners in England and Wales to the National Programme of Substance Abuse Deaths. Whilst 802 cases were identified as direct acute overdose, representing 77% of the total accidental deaths, 23% of 'overdose' fatalities were caused by asphyxiation (7%), drug-related medical conditions (7%), non-drug-related conditions (4%), traumatic accidents (3%) and infections (2%). Younger people show higher risk of overdose and asphyxiation; older people show higher risk from pre-existing medical conditions. This study not only confirmed the high risk of overdose associated with heroin and polydrug use, but it also identified other high fatality risk factors for heroin/morphine users such as contracting an acute infection leading to septicaemia or endocarditis, or contracting a chronic infection such as HIV, HBV or HCV. In contrast, stimulants particularly featured in traumatic accidents, with amphetamine use most associated with cardio-vascular fatality. These findings highlight the 'masked' manner of death in cases commonly recorded as overdose and demonstrate the need for a more-detailed and systematic method of recording drug-related deaths in order to inform drug education and harm reduction strategies.
KW - Drug fatality
KW - Drug mortality
KW - Substance misuse
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0141987886&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0376-8716(03)00191-1
DO - 10.1016/S0376-8716(03)00191-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 14563544
AN - SCOPUS:0141987886
SN - 0376-8716
VL - 72
SP - 67
EP - 74
JO - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
JF - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
IS - 1
ER -