NCJ Number
226573
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 54 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2009 Pages: 478-485
Date Published
March 2009
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effects of amphetamine-class drugs in cases referred to the coroner in Victoria (Australia) between 2001 and 2005, in order to determine whether death could occur from the use of amphetamine-class drugs alone.
Abstract
In 5 years of death investigations in Victoria, there were significantly few cases in which death was directly caused by acute or short-term amphetamine-class drug use in the absence of other contributing substances. There were six cases that involved a blood vessel rupture and two to three cases of other causes that did not involve bleeding. There were approximately two deaths per year attributed to the use of amphetamine-class drugs in a community known for relatively high use of such drugs. There were at least three cases in which it was likely that a serotonin syndrome caused death in the presence of moclobemide and a number of cases of death caused by the use of MDMA (“ecstasy“); however, there were 19 cases in which death occurred in the presence of amphetamine-class drugs and significant heart disease. There was possibly one case caused by methamphetamine alone. The subjects were autopsied at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine during 2001-2005, in order to obtain information on the manner and cause of their unexpected deaths. Autopsy included a full macroscopic and microscopic examination of all major organs and collection of body fluids and tissues for comprehensive toxicological analysis. The latter analysis is designed to identify the presence of alcohol, drugs of abuse, and a long list of prescription or over-the-counter drugs. This testing included all common amphetamine-class drugs. 3 tables and 34 references