Case control comparison of autopsy pathology of psychostimulant deaths, heroin deaths, and a non-drug using comparison group
NDARC Staff
Shane Darke and Sharlene Kaye
Other Investigators
Johan Duflou
Aims
Design and Method
The study was a comparative analysis of the types and severity of major organ pathology detected among three groups:
- cocaine-related fatalities that occurred between 1993 and 2002 (n=125)
- opioid-related deaths that occurred between 1998 and 2002 in which cocaine was not present (n=669)
- a group of hanging victims from between 1998 and 2002, in which illicit drugs were not detected (n=360)
Information on cause of death, demographic characteristics, drug use history, circumstances of death, toxicological findings and major autopsy findings were 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
Funding
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing