Undetected drug addict fatalities

ABSTRACT

Hair analysis screening in 21 fatalities with an unnatural or unknown cause of death [19-48 years of age] was carried out to evaluate the proportion of undetected drug-related cases. Among 21 hair samples tested, 2 [9.5%] were positive for three of the four opiates studied indicating past opiate use although examination, investigation and toxicology analyses failed to uncover evidence of drug abuse. Codeine alone and in combination with dihydrocodeine [DHC] were detected in the roots and 1 centimeter segments of hair of one case, respectively, while morphine and codeine were detected in the six centimeters of hair of the other case. The hair opiate concentrations coincides with that previously reported in cases of death due to acute narcotic intoxication. So, the present results raises certain issues regarding the use of hair as a matrix for postmortem toxicology testing. It can play an important role in determining the factors that caused or contributed to an individual's death in fatalities with undetermined cause of death