Investigation of patterns and dynamics of substance users: A long-term toxicology study on a sample of the Greek population between 2005 and 2019.

The purpose of the present study is to investigate dynamics underlying drug abuse and identify statistical correlations/patterns of forensic findings and sociodemographic factors in a population of illicit substance users. The following long-term studies were conducted: (a) a retrospective autopsy cohort study on autopsy incidents with available toxicological screening results (N = 482) in investigation of any possible forensic associations of exposure to illicit drugs; and (b) a cross-sectional study on a sample of arrested drug law offenders with available toxicological screening results (N = 195) as well as cluster analysis in order to possibly identify user profiles. Although outside the scope of the present study, ethanol was generally considered to be the main substance of abuse, as more than half of the premature deaths reported tested positive on the ethanol toxicology screen. Cannabis and opioid use was associated with unintentional causes of death, while an association of deliberate self-harm was noted with opioid and benzodiazepine use. Both cannabis and opioid use correlated with significantly younger ages (more than a decade) of premature death. Most frequently, an onset of substance use was reported in the early 20s with cannabis use. Although 65.3% of the subjects were diagnosed as dependent and unable to eliminate substance use on their own, only 7.7% of the subjects in the users' population had ever accessed appropriate support through rehabilitation programs.

Sexual homicide: Brief review of the literature and case report involving rape, genital mutilation and human arson.

The objective of the current paper is to report a new case of sexual murder involving human arson and summarize the literature on the phenomenon of sexual homicide. The present case study is unprecedented in Greece and a rarity in international literature due to the fact that the victim suffered genital mutilation and incineration while still alive. The evaluation consisted of 176 articles; 53 were reviewed by the authors. The results revealed sparse, but significant, research findings. The authors discuss the limitations regarding research, incidence of the phenomenon, crime-scene patterns, offender characteristics (killing methods, motive inferences, sociodemographic data, classifications, psychopathology, modus operandi), and victim selection. The incidence of the phenomenon is unclear (1-4%) due to non-standardized criteria. It is an expression of displaced anger or sexual sadism and/or a way to elude detection (ancillary benefit). Most offenders (in their first kill) and victims were in their late 20s to early 30s and belong to Caucasian populations. Personal weapons were commonly used against women, strangulation is the prevalent killing method against children, and firearms against men. Most of the sexual homicide perpetrators are non-psychotic at the time of the attack, but experience personality pathology, primitive defenses, pathological object relations, and withdrawal into fantasy in order to deal with social isolation.

The issue of euthanasia in Greece from a legal viewpoint.

Modern Greek society appears to be split regarding the legalization of euthanasia. The Greek Orthodox Church maintains a negative attitude. Research shows that some forms of euthanasia are carried out "behind closed doors". There is no specific legal provision. The government avoids bearing the political cost of regulating this marginal issue. According to the dominant view of Criminal Law jurists, some forms of euthanasia are considered permissible de lege lata, under certain conditions. The safety of the concurrence of these conditions, safeguarding of the acceptability of forms that are considered permissible and - mostly - the need to regulate the prohibited forms in exceptional cases, all force the legislators to promptly fill any legal vacuums.