Demographics, circumstances, toxicology and major organ pathology of psychostimulant-related deaths in Australia
NDARC Staff
Shane Darke, Sharlene Kaye and Rebecca McKetin
Other Investigators
Johan Duflou (Department of Forensic Medicine, Central and Southwestern Sydney Area Health Service; School of Medicine, University of Sydney)
Aims
Design and Method
Cases in the NCIS database where illicit psychostimulants are noted as a direct cause of death, an antecedent cause of death, or a significant associated condition contributing to death, were selected. Drug classes examined included amphetamine and ATS. De-identified case information, e.g. age, gender, circumstances of death, toxicology results and autopsy results were entered into a separate database maintained by, and restricted to, the nominated investigators.
Progress
Output
Kaye, S. Demographics, toxicology and cardiovascular pathology of methamphetamine-related deaths. The 18th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm, Warsaw, Poland, May 2007.
Kaye, S. Demographics, toxicology and cardiovascular pathology of methamphetamine-related deaths. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing Seminar Series, Canberra, November 2006.
Kaye, S. Demographics, toxicology and cardiovascular pathology of methamphetamine-related deaths. NDARC Annual Symposium, Sydney, July 2006.
Published papers:
Kaye, S., Darke, S., Duflou, J. & McKetin, R. (2008). Methamphetamine-related fatalities in Australia: Demographics, circumstances, toxicology and major organ pathology. Addiction, 103, 1353-1360.
Funding
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing