Survey of Toxicologic Testing Practices for a Violent Death Surveillance System

Larsen, Gitte; Barber, Catherine; Kosegarten, David C.; Olson, Lenora M.

doi:10.1177/1088767908319594

Cited by 2 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(18 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Most did not test for monoamine oxidase inhibitors, a class of antidepressants rarely prescribed today. The labs reported using screening detection limits (below which positive results cannot be distinguished from zero) ranging from 0.05 mg/L to 0.2 mg/L (see Larsen, Barber, Kosegarten, & Olson, 2008).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suicides and Suicide Attempts Following Homicide

et al. 2008

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study used linked, official data for population-based surveillance of homicides, suicides, and homicide–suicides in four U.S. states and four counties. Among 1,503 homicide incidents, less than 5% ( n = 74) were followed by the perpetrator's suicide and 1% ( n = 18) by a nonfatal suicide attempt. However, among men who killed their female intimate partner with a firearm, 59% also took their own life. Homicide–suicide perpetrators did not test positive for an antidepressant more often than other male suicide decedents (15% vs. 19%). Most (54%) perpetrators of nonfirearm homicides who attempted suicide lived; nearly all (93%) firearm perpetrators who attempted suicide died. Among men who killed their female intimate partner with a firearm, homicide–suicide was the norm. Better enforcement of existing laws designed to protect abuse victims by removing firearms from domestic abusers may also prevent abusers' suicides.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suicides and Suicide Attempts Following Homicide

et al. 2008

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, this study improves on previous studies relying on death certificates or single state analysis by using toxicology screening data from many states. While only decedents with toxicology reports for all 3 substances of interest were included in this study to allow comparison across rurality, there may be jurisdictional‐level differences in the types of toxicology tests used that may bias results 29 . Additionally, the toxicology reports in NVDRS do not include type of opioids, benzodiazepines, or alcohol found, nor the dosage for opioids or benzodiazepines.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As NVDRS does not specify type of opioid, this measure included all decedents testing positive for any opioids (including those obtained illicitly and those prescribed to the decedent). Given differences in death reporting systems 28,34 and toxicology reporting, 12,29 decedents were included who had been tested for opioid, alcohol, and benzodiazepine use and who had tested positive for opioid use.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The challenges of studying co‐use‐related suicide deaths, or overdose deaths more broadly, may be one reason for the sparse literature on co‐use‐related mortality. Specific‐drug death is difficult to examine across states or jurisdictions given differences in autopsies and toxicology testing across states with different death investigation systems, 12,28,29 which results in differences in how drug‐related cause of death is classified on the death certificate. Addressing these difficulties, the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) in a national dataset includes toxicology reports for suicide decedents, making this dataset useful for studying combinations of alcohol and substances present among overdose suicide decedents 30,31 …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Postmortem screening of opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol among rural and urban suicide decedents

Bensley

Kerr

Barnett

et al. 2021

The Journal of Rural Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose Fatal suicides involving opioids are increasingly common, particularly in rural areas. As co‐use of opioids with other substances contributes significantly to mortality risk, we examined whether positive screens for opioids with other substances is more prevalent among rural versus urban suicide deaths, as this could have implications for public health strategies to reduce overdose suicides. Methods Data from all states reporting opioid‐related overdose suicides in the National Violent Death Reporting System from 2012 to 2015 were used. Relative risk ratios were obtained using multinomial logistic regression, comparing opioid‐only to (1) opioid and alcohol, (2) opioid and benzodiazepines, and (3) opioid, alcohol, and benzodiazepines suicides across rurality. Models were fit using robust standard errors and fixed effects for year of death, adjusting for individual, county, and state‐level covariates. Findings There were 3,781 opioid‐overdose suicide decedents (42% female) tested for all 3 substances during the study period. Unadjusted prevalence of positive screens in decedents varied across rurality (P = .022). Urban decedents were more likely to test positive for opioids alone, while rural decedents were more to likely test positive for opioids and benzodiazepines. Conclusions Rural suicides are associated with increased opioid and benzodiazepine positive screens. These findings suggest the need for rural‐focused interventions to support appropriate co‐prescribing, better health education for providers about risks associated with drug mixing, and more linkages with mental health services.

show abstract

Survey of Toxicologic Testing Practices for a Violent Death Surveillance System

Cited by 2 publications

References 20 publications

Suicides and Suicide Attempts Following Homicide

Suicides and Suicide Attempts Following Homicide

Postmortem screening of opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol among rural and urban suicide decedents

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About