Subject(s)
Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use , Hospitalization , Hypertension/drug therapy , Practice Patterns, Physicians' , Quality of Life , Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/therapeutic use , Aged , Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers/therapeutic use , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Calcium Channel Blockers/therapeutic use , Diuretics/therapeutic use , Drug Combinations , Female , Germany , Humans , Male , Medication Adherence , Middle Aged , Renin/antagonists & inhibitorsABSTRACT
All drug-associated deaths from 1989 to 2000 were analysed at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Cologne. Information concerning sex, gender, drug consumption, time, place and circumstances of death were analysed. A number of 605 cases were recorded; in 518 cases a toxicological analysis was possible and in 171 an autopsy was performed. When it was possible to determine the cause of death form the information available, acute drug intoxication was recorded in 65%. Heroin head the list of identified substances. Sixty-three percent of the specimens showed a combination of several substances, especially a combination of morphine, benzodiazepines, other medications and alcohol. In comparison with other studies the percentage of methadone-positive specimens is low, even though the proportion of specimens positive for methadone increased from 1989 to 2000. This analysis is discussed using background information concerning the management of substitution therapy and the available literature.
Subject(s)
Heroin/poisoning , Illicit Drugs/poisoning , Methadone/poisoning , Narcotics/poisoning , Benzodiazepines/poisoning , Cause of Death , Drug Overdose/epidemiology , Ethanol/poisoning , Female , Germany/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Methadone/therapeutic use , Morphine/poisoning , Narcotics/therapeutic use , Substance-Related Disorders/rehabilitationABSTRACT
Between 1775 and about 1800 the Phlogiston theory was replaced by the Oxygen theory. Both systems are presented briefly. Pharmacists on both sides were involved in the scientific discussions of the Chemical Revolution in Germany. Their contribution is appreciated. Finally the peculiarities of this paradigm exchange are described.