Fatal intoxications among non-drug addicts in Eastern Denmark over a 5-year period (2008–2012)

Abstract

Correspondence: Sys Stybe Johansen Section of Forensic Chemistry, Frederik Femte Vej 11, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark O Tel +45 3532 6241 Fax +45 3532 6085 Email ssj@forensic.ku.dk Background: This study describes fatal intoxications among non-drug addicts in Eastern Denmark over a five-year period (2003–2007), and the data are compared with two similar five-year studies from 1992–1996 and 1998–2002. Method and Results: Among 2663 medicolegal autopsies performed during the study period, 428 fatal intoxications in non-drug addicts were detected. Sixty-three percent were caused by pharmaceuticals, 20% by carbon monoxide, and 15% by ethanol. Comparable with previous studies, carbon monoxide, ethanol, methadone, and morphine were the most common fatal substances, although new pharmaceuticals were observed among the ten most lethal substances, such as tramadol. Furthermore, older pharmaceuticals with narrow therapeutic windows such as propoxyphene and ketobemidone were almost not present. This study also briefly mentions alcoholic ketoacidosis as a cause of fatal intoxications. Conclusion: The pattern of fatal intoxications could, for some pharmaceuticals, be related to the number of treatments, although other unknown factors also contribute.