Drug-related death in Denmark in 2007

Kirsten Wiese Simonsen; A. Carsten Hansen; Dorte  Rollmann; Birgitte Kringsholm; Irene Breum Müller; Sys Stybe Johansen; Kristian Linnet

Drug-related death in Denmark in 2007

Kirsten Wiese Simonsen, A. Carsten Hansen, Dorte Rollmann, Birgitte Kringsholm, Irene Breum Müller, Sys Stybe Johansen, Kristian Linnet

Section of Forensic Chemistry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

3279 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: We investigated fatal poisonings among
drug addicts in 2007. The cause of death, abuse pattern
and geographic differences are presented.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: All drug-related deaths examined
at the three forensic medicine institutes in Denmark
in 2007 were evaluated.
RESULTS: The number of drug-related deaths in 2007
was 226. Methadone deaths had increased since 1997
while heroin/morphine deaths decreased. In earlier
studies, very few deaths from central stimulants like cocaine
and amphetamines occurred (1-1.5%), but in 2007
6% of the deaths were caused by these drugs. Multiple
drug use was common. Heroin/morphine, cocaine, amphetamine,
cannabis, methadone, benzodiazepines and
alcohol were included in the poly-drug use.
CONCLUSION: This investigation shows stabilization in the
number of fatal poisonings in drug addicts. Geographic
differences were observed. Methadone was the most
frequent cause of fatal poisoning and there was a continuous
decrease in heroin/morphine deaths. Fatal
deaths from cocaine and amphetamine have increased
considerably. Multiple drug use was common.

Original language	English
Journal	Danish Medical Bulletin (Online)
Volume	58
Issue number	8
Pages (from-to)	1-5
Number of pages	5
ISSN	1603-9629
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2011

Keywords

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Drug addict death, fatal intoxication,

Access to Document

Drug related death in Denmark 2007Submitted manuscript, 169 KB

http://www.danmedj.dk.ep.fjernadgang.kb.dk/portal/page/portal/danmedj.dk/dmj_forside/PAST_ISSUE/2011/DMB_2011_08/A4307

Cite this

@article{d89f149eb1ed40048aa99852ac95554d,

title = "Drug-related death in Denmark in 2007",

abstract = "INTRODUCTION: We investigated fatal poisonings among drug addicts in 2007. The cause of death, abuse pattern and geographic differences are presented. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All drug-related deaths examined at the three forensic medicine institutes in Denmark in 2007 were evaluated. RESULTS: The number of drug-related deaths in 2007 was 226. Methadone deaths had increased since 1997 while heroin/morphine deaths decreased. In earlier studies, very few deaths from central stimulants like cocaine and amphetamines occurred (1-1.5%), but in 2007 6% of the deaths were caused by these drugs. Multiple drug use was common. Heroin/morphine, cocaine, amphetamine, cannabis, methadone, benzodiazepines and alcohol were included in the poly-drug use. CONCLUSION: This investigation shows stabilization in the number of fatal poisonings in drug addicts. Geographic differences were observed. Methadone was the most frequent cause of fatal poisoning and there was a continuous decrease in heroin/morphine deaths. Fatal deaths from cocaine and amphetamine have increased considerably. Multiple drug use was common.",

keywords = "Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Drug addict death, fatal intoxication, ",

author = "Simonsen, {Kirsten Wiese} and Hansen, {A. Carsten} and Dorte Rollmann and Birgitte Kringsholm and M{\"u}ller, {Irene Breum} and Johansen, {Sys Stybe} and Kristian Linnet",

year = "2011",

month = aug,

day = "1",

language = "English",

volume = "58",

pages = "1--5",

journal = "Danish Medical Journal",

issn = "2245-1919",

publisher = "Almindelige Danske Laegeforening",

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}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Drug-related death in Denmark in 2007

AU - Simonsen, Kirsten Wiese

AU - Hansen, A. Carsten

AU - Rollmann, Dorte

AU - Kringsholm, Birgitte

AU - Müller, Irene Breum

AU - Johansen, Sys Stybe

AU - Linnet, Kristian

PY - 2011/8/1

Y1 - 2011/8/1

N2 - INTRODUCTION: We investigated fatal poisonings among drug addicts in 2007. The cause of death, abuse pattern and geographic differences are presented. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All drug-related deaths examined at the three forensic medicine institutes in Denmark in 2007 were evaluated. RESULTS: The number of drug-related deaths in 2007 was 226. Methadone deaths had increased since 1997 while heroin/morphine deaths decreased. In earlier studies, very few deaths from central stimulants like cocaine and amphetamines occurred (1-1.5%), but in 2007 6% of the deaths were caused by these drugs. Multiple drug use was common. Heroin/morphine, cocaine, amphetamine, cannabis, methadone, benzodiazepines and alcohol were included in the poly-drug use. CONCLUSION: This investigation shows stabilization in the number of fatal poisonings in drug addicts. Geographic differences were observed. Methadone was the most frequent cause of fatal poisoning and there was a continuous decrease in heroin/morphine deaths. Fatal deaths from cocaine and amphetamine have increased considerably. Multiple drug use was common.

AB - INTRODUCTION: We investigated fatal poisonings among drug addicts in 2007. The cause of death, abuse pattern and geographic differences are presented. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All drug-related deaths examined at the three forensic medicine institutes in Denmark in 2007 were evaluated. RESULTS: The number of drug-related deaths in 2007 was 226. Methadone deaths had increased since 1997 while heroin/morphine deaths decreased. In earlier studies, very few deaths from central stimulants like cocaine and amphetamines occurred (1-1.5%), but in 2007 6% of the deaths were caused by these drugs. Multiple drug use was common. Heroin/morphine, cocaine, amphetamine, cannabis, methadone, benzodiazepines and alcohol were included in the poly-drug use. CONCLUSION: This investigation shows stabilization in the number of fatal poisonings in drug addicts. Geographic differences were observed. Methadone was the most frequent cause of fatal poisoning and there was a continuous decrease in heroin/morphine deaths. Fatal deaths from cocaine and amphetamine have increased considerably. Multiple drug use was common.

KW - Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

KW - Drug addict death, fatal intoxication,

M3 - Journal article

VL - 58

SP - 1

EP - 5

JO - Danish Medical Journal

JF - Danish Medical Journal

SN - 2245-1919

IS - 8

ER -