Fatal Injuries After Cocaine Use as a Leading Cause of Death Among Young Adults in New York City

• NCJ Number: 157893
• Journal: New England Journal of Medicine Volume: 332 Issue: 26 Dated: (June 29, 1995) Pages: 1753-1757
• Author(s): P M Marzuk; K Tardiff; A C Leon; C S Hirsch; M Stajic; L Portera; N Hartwell; I Iqbal
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 5 pages
• Grant Number(s): DA-06534
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The extent of cocaine use among New York City residents with fatal injuries was examined through an analysis of records on the 14,843 people who received fatal injuries during 1990-92.

Abstract

The research also focused on the population-based rates of fatal injuries known to follow cocaine use and the proportion of all deaths of New york City represented by these cases for each demographic stratum. For people ages 15-44, fatal injury after cocaine use was ranked with other causes of death as though it was a separate cause. Results revealed that cocaine use was found in 26.7 percent of the people receiving fatal injuries. Free cocaine was detected in 18.3 percent. Approximately one-third of the deaths after cocaine use were the result of drug intoxication; two-thirds involved traumatic injuries resulting from homicides, suicides, traffic accidents, and falls. Fatal injury after cocaine use ranked among the five leading causes of deaths among those ages 15-44. Findings indicated that fatal injuries among cocaine users account for a substantial proportion of all deaths among young adults in New York City. Tables and 23 references (Author abstract modified)