NCJ Number
52800
Date Published
1978
Length
143 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY, BASED ON 1,954 CASES OF VIOLENT DEATH SEEN BY THE NEW YORK CITY MEDICAL EXAMINER DURING A 1-YEAR PERIOD, FINDS ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE ARE MAJOR FACTORS IN ACCIDENTS, HOMICIDES, AND SUICIDES.
Abstract
THE STUDY LIMITED ITSELF TO PERSONS OVER AGE 18 WHO WERE SUBSEQUENTLY IDENTIFIED AND ABOUT WHOM INFORMATION COULD BE OBTAINED. AS A RESULT, THE SAMPLE COMPRISES ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF ALL UNNATURAL DEATHS INVESTIGATED BY THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE DURING THE STUDY PERIOD, AUGUST 20, 1974, TO AUGUST 19, 1975. THE VICTIMS INCLUDED 800 ALCOHOLICS, 500 NARCOTICS ABUSERS, AND 200 WITH BOTH CONDITIONS. THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS AND DATA COLLECTION DEVICES SHOWED OVERWHELMING ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND VIOLENT DEATH. IN CONTRAST TO THE TOTAL ADULT POPULATION OF NEW YORK CITY, WHICH IS OLDER, MOSTLY WHITE, AND 55 PERCENT FEMALE, AND THE RESEARCH SAMPLE WAS 76 PERCENT MALE, 59 PERCENT NONWHITE, AND 65 PERCENT LESS THAN 45 YEARS OLD. THE STUDY EXAMINES THE PROBLEMS OF CLASSIFYING A PERSON AS AN ALCOHOLIC OR DRUG ABUSER, THE PROBLEM OF UNDERREPORTING, THE PROBLEM OF MULTIPLE DRUG USE, AND THE DIRECT AND INDIRECT RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ABUSE AND VARIOUS FORMS OF VIOLENT DEATH. IT ALSO FINDS THAT BOTH ABUSE AND VIOLENT DEATH RUN IN FAMILIES WITH STRONG ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN FATHER AND CHILD OR AMONG SIBLINGS. BOTH THE STUDY QUESTIONNAIRE AND RESPONSES TO IT ARE GIVEN. THE DATA IS PRESENTED IN DETAIL AND ILLUSTRATED WITH CHARTS AND TABLES. METHODS FOR USING MORTALITY DATA TO ESTIMATE ACTUAL ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE ARE GIVEN. A PLEA IS MADE FOR BETTER RECORDING OF ABUSE DATA ON DEATH INVESTIGATION FORMS. PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATE PHYSICAL FINDINGS. APPENDIXES PRESENT ADDITIONAL RESEARCH AND STATISTICAL DATA. EXTENSIVE REFERENCES ARE ALSO APPENDED. (GLR)