Number of addictive substances used related to increased risk of unnatural death: A combined medico-legal and case-record study

Brådvik, Louise; Berglund, Mats; Frank, Arne; Lindgren, Anna; Löwenhielm, Peter

doi:10.1186/1471-244x-9-48

Cited by 30 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 41 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…This agreed with results reported in previous studies (15)(16)(17)(18). Aggressiveness and social consequences are interrelated.…”

Section: Associations Of Spu With Mental Social and Physical Factorssupporting

confidence: 83%

“…Indeed, polydrug use is associated with a unique set of consequences (8), including psychological morbidity/pathology (9)(10)(11), health risk behaviors (12) [e.g., HIV risk-taking (5)], difficulties engaging in drug-abuse therapy (13), and worse outcomes following drug-abuse treatment (14). Moreover, some studies indicated that the abuse of a higher number of substances was associated with more severe health outcomes (15)(16)(17)(18).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Concurrent and simultaneous polydrug use among young Swiss males: use patterns and associations of number of substances used with health issues

Baggio¹,

Studer²,

Mohler‐Kuo

et al. 2014

International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Simultaneous polydrug use (SPU) may represent a greater incremental risk factor for human health than concurrent polydrug use (CPU). However, few studies have examined these patterns of use in relation to health issues, particularly with regard to the number of drugs used. Methods: In the present study, we have analyzed data from a representative sample of 5734 young Swiss males from the Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors. Exposure to drugs (i.e., alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and 15 other illicit drugs), as well as mental, social and physical factors, were studied through regression analysis. Results: We found that individuals engaging in CPU and SPU followed the known stages of drug use, involving initial experiences with licit drugs (e.g., alcohol and tobacco), followed by use of cannabis and then other illicit drugs. In this regard, two classes of illicit drugs were identified, including first uppers, hallucinogens and sniffed drugs; and then "harder" drugs (ketamine, heroin, and crystal meth), which were only consumed by polydrug users who were already taking numerous drugs. Moreover, we observed an association between the number of drugs used simultaneously and social issues (i.e., social consequences and aggressiveness). In fact, the more often the participants simultaneously used substances, the more likely they were to experience social problems. In contrast, we did not find any relationship between SPU and depression, anxiety, health consequences, or health. Conclusions: We identified some associations with SPU that were independent of CPU. Moreover, we found that the number of concurrently used drugs can be a strong factor associated with mental and physical health, although their simultaneous use may not significantly contribute to this association. Finally, the negative effects related to the use of one substance might be counteracted by the use of an additional substance.

show abstract

“…This agreed with results reported in previous studies (15)(16)(17)(18). Aggressiveness and social consequences are interrelated.…”

Section: Associations Of Spu With Mental Social and Physical Factorssupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concurrent and simultaneous polydrug use among young Swiss males: use patterns and associations of number of substances used with health issues

Baggio¹,

Studer²,

Mohler‐Kuo

et al. 2014

International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Nevertheless, over the past decade, fatal opioid overdose has emerged as a major public health issue internationally (7). The major cause of deaths related to opioid overdose has shown to be inadvertence (8). The case we present has showed that careless and unaware consumption of poppy capsule is a great danger often resulting with mortality.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Fatal Poppy Capsule Toxicity

Küçüker

Aydıner

2011

ELECTRON J GEN MED

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Les empoisonnements peuvent être définis par l'exposition d'un individu (par ingestion, inhalation, injection) à une quantité de substance(s) potentiellement dangereuse(s). Ces empoisonnements sont d'origine accidentelle, volontaire ou criminelle et la mort peut être le résultat des effets directs ou indirects, immédiats ou chroniques de l'exposition [1]. Ainsi, les xé-nobiotiques peuvent être directement responsables du décès, mais peuvent aussi être associés à d'autres circonstances morbides telles que la noyade, la défenestration, l'immolation, le polytraumatisme routier [2,3].…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

“…Ainsi, les xé-nobiotiques peuvent être directement responsables du décès, mais peuvent aussi être associés à d'autres circonstances morbides telles que la noyade, la défenestration, l'immolation, le polytraumatisme routier [2,3]. Dans ce sens, le décès est qualifié d'origine toxique lorsque le ou les xénobiotiques identifiés sont présents en concentration toxique, voire létale et ceci malgré une causalité secondaire et indirecte de cette toxicité [1,4]. Les décès d'origine toxique sont recensés dans différentes études épidémiologiques, notamment celles effectuées par le CépiDc (organisme affilié à l'INSERM).…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Intérêt des analyses toxicologiques pour déterminer les causes de la mort : bilan de quatre années d’expertise judiciaire

Lacroix¹,

Bouvet

Lepage³

et al. 2010

Ann Toxicol Anal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Résumé -Objectifs : Le bilan de quatre années d'expertises toxicologiques est réalisé et porte sur un total de 665 dossiers analysés dans le cadre de la recherche des causes de la mort. Méthodes : Selon les résultats des analyses postmortem, ceux-ci sont qualifiés de positifs lorsqu'au moins un xénobiotique est retrouvé, en concentration toxique ou non. Lors d'un surdosage, le dossier est qualifié de « mort toxique », sachant que la cause toxique peut être directement ou indirectement liée au décès. Résultats : Parmi les 665 dossiers analysés, la présence d'au moins une molécule médicamenteuse ou stupéfiante a été rapportée respectivement dans 281 et 172 dossiers, ce qui représente 38 et 23 % des cas. Le ou les xénobiotiques identifiés étaient présents en concentrations toxiques, voire létales dans 140 dossiers qui ont été qualifiés de morts toxiques. Les associations à l'alcool étaient de l'ordre de 30 % des dossiers positifs et de 25 % des décès présentant un surdosage en médicament ou en stupéfiant. Les benzodiazépines représentent la classe de substances les plus fréquemment retrouvées dans les cas de mort toxique. Parmi les stupéfiants, un nombre important d'overdoses a été recensé, représentant 27 % des cas de mort toxique. Les opiacés sont impliqués dans 63 % de ces overdoses. Conclusion : Ce bilan fait état d'un nombre élevé de décès liés à la présence d'au moins un xénobiotique en surdosage associé ou non à d'autres substances. Ceci illustre l'intérêt de l'expertise toxicologique lors la détermination des causes de la mort qui constitue, en complément de l'autopsie, un élément important du dossier médico-légal. Mots clés :Bilan, toxicologie médico-légale, causes de la mort, xénobiotiques Abstract -Objectives: A compilation of four years of forensic cases, including a total of 665 data, is reported with the view to determine the involvement of poisoning in the cause of death. Methods : Post-mortem blood and urine samples, collected on the site of death or during an autopsy, are analysed. The results are called positives when at least one drug is found, at a toxic concentration or not. When an overdose is detected, the file can be called "toxic death", given that toxic issue can be direct or not and can be linked to another circumstance (hanging, immolation, ...). Results: Among the 665 analysed files, the presence of at least one medicinal or narcotic molecule is respectively listed in 281 and 172 files, which represents 38 and 23% of the cases. In the whole data set, 140 files are classified as toxic death. Alcohol coingestion is frequent, around 30% of the positive cases and 25% of the deaths that present poisoning. Our study reveals that benzodiazepines are the most frequently detected substances, concerning toxic fatalities. An important number of narcotic overdoses are listed (27% of the toxic deaths), with a large part attributed to opiates (63%). Conclusion: This compilation shows that an important number of fatalities could be related to the presence of at least one compound at toxic concentratio...

show abstract

Number of addictive substances used related to increased risk of unnatural death: A combined medico-legal and case-record study

Cited by 30 publications

References 41 publications

Concurrent and simultaneous polydrug use among young Swiss males: use patterns and associations of number of substances used with health issues

Concurrent and simultaneous polydrug use among young Swiss males: use patterns and associations of number of substances used with health issues

Fatal Poppy Capsule Toxicity

Intérêt des analyses toxicologiques pour déterminer les causes de la mort : bilan de quatre années d’expertise judiciaire

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About