Systemic disease among cases of fatal opioid toxicity
NDARC Staff
Shane Darke and Sharlene Kaye
Other Investigators
Johan Duflou
Aims
Design and Method
The study was an analysis of the types and severity of major organ pathology detected among opioid toxicity deaths. All 841 cases of opioid toxicity seen at three groups seen at the Department of Forensic Medicine between 1/1/1998 - 31/12/2002 were reviewed. Information on cause of death, demographic characteristics, drug use history, circumstances of death, toxicological findings and major autopsy findings was retrieved from coronial files. Permission to access such files was received from the NSW State Coroner and the Central Sydney Area Health Service Research Ethics Committee.
Benefits
Output
Darke, S., Kaye, S., & Duflou, J. (2006) Systemic disease among cases of fatal opioid toxicity. Addiction 101, 1299-1305.
Funding
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing