engleski

Illegal drug intoxication leading to death in Zagreb county 2006-2010

Objectives: To view the situation in Zagreb for the last 5 years (2006-2010) in relation to death by illegally related drug intoxication and to try to find a pattern or trends related to the deaths by viewing archives obtained from Department of Forensic Medicine and Criminology together with their Toxicology department. Methods: The study was based on the register book from Forensic department University Zagreb of autopsies confirming causes of death. Data from 2006-2010 was used and compared with the Toxicology registers of deceased subjects from drug intoxication were chosen. Results: Over the 5 year period from 2006-2010 there was 157 cases of death from intoxication with illegal drugs. Poly-drug use represented 130 cases or 82, 8% of all the cases between the years 2006-2010. Methadone in combination with other substances represented in 101 cases or 64, 3% of all the fatalities related to drug intoxication between the years of 2006-2010. Heroin in combination with other substances represented in 45 cases or 28, 7% of all the fatalities related to drug intoxication between the years of 2006-2010. Diazepam was included as an additional synergistic substance in 110 cases or 70, 1% of all the fatalities related to drug intoxication between the years of 2006-2010. Between the years 2006-2010 there was a total of 157 cases of death with an average age of 31, 6 years old. Gender distribution between the years 2006-2010 included 16 females and 141 males. Discussion: The results from this study gave a view of the situation in Zagreb County the last five years in drug use, as to what drugs were being used and if it was a single- or multi-drug use. Poly-drug use in this study was the prime killer in both the yearly and the overall death rate. The use of drugs that lead to lethal intoxications were almost exclusively heroin mixture, methadone and benzodiazepine specifically Diazepam all in a poly-drug pattern. All data showed a homogenous pattern, there was not any specific peak in a certain drug involved nor any rise in any specific age group. Conclusion: There was a consistency in the pattern of people dying from drug intoxication from year to year. Poly-drug use dominated over single drug use in these cases of fatalities.

poly-drug use; methadone; heroin; benzodiazepines; synergism

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