RESUMO
The aim of this investigation was to examine the deaths of drug addicts from poisoning in the county of Funen in 1995 and 1996. The cause of death was related to drugs on the illicit market. Social conditions (homelessness, involvement in crime, psychogenic disease, circumstance of death) are discussed. The study included 47 drug addicts. Median age was 34, age span: 20-43. The main cause of death was poisoning by heroin. In 28% of the drug addicts cocaine was detected and in 13% amphetamine. About half had used benzodiazepines. Few were employees, most were criminals and eight were homeless. Thirty-eight percent were found in public lavatories. Eight had a serious psychiatric diagnosis. We can conclude that the drug addicts are socially marginalized. They abused a mixture of drugs. The drugs detected in the drug addicts compared well with the drugs on the illicit market and cocaine had gained access to the market.
Assuntos
Intoxicação/mortalidade , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/mortalidade , Adulto , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Anfetaminas/complicações , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Anfetaminas/mortalidade , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Anfetaminas/psicologia , Autopsia , Dinamarca/epidemiologia , Overdose de Drogas , Feminino , Dependência de Heroína/complicações , Dependência de Heroína/mortalidade , Dependência de Heroína/psicologia , Humanos , Masculino , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Opioides/complicações , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Opioides/mortalidade , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Opioides/psicologia , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/complicações , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/psicologiaRESUMO
This study includes death from poisoning among drug addicts in 1993 in the county of Funen, in all 24. The development during the last five years shows an increase, especially in the largest city in the county. The drug addicts have several problems, and several of them were well-known in the social welfare system or by the police. Half of the drug addicts had received treatment for their abuse and three persons were receiving treatment at the time of their death. A few--primarily among the youngest--had only used drugs for a short time while one third had abused drugs for several years. The greater part of the deaths were caused by heroin, which is found in different concentrations in the illegal market. Five of the dead persons had just been released from prison and three people had just left 24-hour care centres when they were found dead. Co-operation between the various, treating authorities has to be given a high priority.
