Cause and manner of death in drug-related fatality: an analysis of drug-related deaths recorded by coroners in England and Wales in 2000

Webb, Lucy; Oyefeso, Adenekan; Schifano, Fabrizio; Cheeta, Survjit; Pollard, Mike; Ghodse, A. Hamid

doi:10.1016/s0376-8716(03)00191-1

Cited by 44 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…As a consequence, a more precise description of the index-related death is made possible and this may have decreased, in the present np-SAD dataset, the number of cases in which ecstasy was considered to be involved on its own. Contributory clinical factors here described at postmortem in ATS fatalities were overall consistent with the existing, mainly anecdotal in nature, literature and reflect a number of issues, including: the sympathomimetic actions of both AMP/METH and ecstasy [25,26] ; the possible idiosyncratic toxic reactions to these compounds [4] , and the accident-proneness behaviour of ATS mis users [4,27,28] . The sympathomimetic stimulation may be further exacerbated by the environmental condition which is in turn induced by both the repetitive high-frequency rhythm of the techno music itself and by the aggregation in close environments/high ambient temperature [26] .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 51%

Overview of Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Mortality Data – UK, 1997–2007

et al. 2010

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Background/Aims: Despite being amphetamine derivatives, MDMA and its analogues show a number of clinical pharmacological differences with respect to both amphetamine (AMP) and methylamphetamine (METH). We aimed here at reporting and analysing information relating to the socio-demographics and clinical circumstances of the AMP-type stimulant-related deaths for the whole of the UK. Methods: Data (1997–2007) were taken from the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths (np-SAD) database, collecting information from UK coroners/procurators fiscal. To calculate rates of fatalities per 100,000 users, appropriate AMP/METH and ecstasy users’ numbers were taken from the 2001–2007 British Crime Survey. Results: Overall, 832 AMP/METH- and 605 ecstasy (mostly MDMA and methylenedioxyamphetamine/MDA)-related deaths were respectively identified. In comparison with AMP/METH victims, the ecstasy ones were more likely to be younger (28.3 vs. 32.7 years; p < 0.0001) and less likely to be known as drug users (PR = 1.9; CI 1.5–2.6). Ecstasy was more likely to be identified on its own than AMP/METH (p = 0.0192). Contributory factors were more frequently mentioned by coroners in the ‘AMP/METH-only’ (106 cases) group than in the ‘ecstasy-only’ (104 cases) one (p = 0.0043). Both poly- and monodrug AMP/METH fatalities per 100,000 16- to 59-year-old users were significantly more represented than ecstasy fatalities (respectively 17.87 ± 4.77 deaths vs. 10.89 ± 1.27; p = 0.000; 2.09 ± 0.88 vs. 1.75 ± 0.56; p = 0.0096). However, mono-intoxication ecstasy fatalities per 100,000 16- to 24-year-old users were significantly more represented than AMP/METH fatalities (1.67 ± 0.52 vs. 0.8 ± 0.65; p = 0.0007). Conclusion: With respect to AMP/METH, ecstasy was here more typically identified in victims who were young, healthy, and less likely to be known as drug users. AMP/METH high mortality rates may be explained by users’ high levels of physical co-morbidity; excess ecstasy-related fatality rates in young users may be a reason for concern. Although the coroners’ response rate was of 90–95%, study limitations include both reporting inconsistency over time and lack of routine information on drug intake levels prior to death.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 51%

Overview of Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Mortality Data – UK, 1997–2007

et al. 2010

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“…in the early morning hours; Schifano 1995;Hoshi et al 2003). In a recent report, Webb et al (2003) analyzed the causes of all deaths that occurred in England and Wales in the year 2000 and found that stimulants, including MDMA, particularly featured in traumatic accidents. Finally, the existence of an underlying natural disease acts as a contributory factor for the induction of a potentially fatal condition (i.e.…”

Section: Mechanisms Of Deathmentioning

confidence: 98%

A bitter pill. Overview of ecstasy (MDMA, MDA) related fatalities

2004

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“…Mortality among people who inject drugs (PWID) is significantly higher than that of the general population (Bargagli et al, 2006;Degenhardt et al, 2014;Frischer et al, 1993;Stoové et al, 2008;Webb et al, 2003). Cohort studies conducted in settings where HIV prevalence is low report significant proportions of deaths occur at an early age and are most commonly attributed to either drug toxicity or external causes such as trauma and violence (Degenhardt et al, 2014;Kielland et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%