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Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate fatal poisonings among drug addicts in 1997 and to compare the results to similar investigations from 1985 and 1991., Material and Methods: All fatal intoxications among drug addicts in Denmark in 1997, investigated at the three Institutes of Forensic Medicine in Denmark., Results: The number of fatal intoxications increased by 32% from 1991 to 1997, mainly outside the metropolitan area, The average age increased from 32 to 36 years. The proportion of heroin/morphine intoxications increased from 57% to 71%. The most commonly used drugs were as in 1991 heroin/morphine, diazepam and methadone. The frequency of cocaine increased from one positive case in 1991 to 14% positive cases in 1997., Discussion: This study showed an increasing number of fatal intoxications and changes in drug abuse pattern and place of death since 1991.

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.

This study includes all deaths among drug addicts in the years 1991 (n = 219) and 1992 (n = 214) investigated at the three institutes of forensic medicine in Denmark. The results are compared with deaths among drug addicts in 1984-1985. The number of deaths among drug addicts increased by approximately 50% in 1991-1992 compared with 1984-1985. The increase was most significant among drug addicts over 35 years of age. The cause of death was intoxication in three-quarters of the cases in 1991-1992. In half of these cases heroin/morphine had caused death, while intoxications caused by methadone accounted for approximately 30% of the cases. In the metropolitan area the frequency of methadone intoxications increased significantly compared with 1984-1985, whereas the number of heroin/morphine intoxications did not change. Outside the metropolitan area, however, a significant increase in heroin/morphine intoxications was noticed. In all parts of the country the number of propoxyphene intoxications decreased to a few annual cases. The most commonly used drugs of abuse were heroin/morphine, diazepam and methadone, often in combination with alcohol.

Deaths among drug addicts in Funen and in the south part of Jutland in the period 1989-1991 are described with respect to sex, age, social conditions, cause of death etc. The material included 62 drug addict deaths. The mean age was 31 years, range 15-49 years. Seventy-seven percent died from poisoning. A heroin overdose was the cause of death in 65% of these cases. There were two (3%) deaths from methadone. In 34 of the cases we found benzodiazepines, and in 29 cases alcohol. It appeared from information from family/friends that 45 had an abuse pattern involving multiple substances, so it seems that such abuse is common.