Citation

Steentoft A, Worm K, Pedersen CB, Sprehn M, Mogensen T, Sørensen MB, Nielsen E. Int. J. Legal Med. 1996; 108(5): 248-251.

Affiliation

Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Forensic Chemistry, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8721424

Abstract

This investigation includes whole blood samples from 53 drug addicts found unconscious in the Copenhagen area with evidence of a heroin overdose. Heroin/morphine was detected in 85% of the patients and other opioids in 11%. One or more benzodiazepines, most often diazepam, were detected in 75% of the patients. A blood alcohol concentration higher than 1.00 mg/g was detected in 57% of the patients. Methadone was detected in seven patients, ketobemidone in four, amphetamine in five and cocaine in one. This investigation showed widespread multi-drug abuse and heroin/morphine alone was detected in only one patient. As indicators of heroin intake, 6-mono-acetylmorphine (MAM) and morphine were detected in this investigation.

Language: en