TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2007//
TI  - Comparative toxicology of fatal heroin overdose cases and morphine positive homicide victims
JO  - Addiction
A1  - Darke, S.
A1  - Duflou, J.
A1  - Kaye, S.
SP  - 1793
EP  - 1797
VL  - 102
IS  - 11
N2  - Aims To compare the blood toxicology of heroin overdose cases and morphine positive homicide victims. Design Analysis of coronial cases. Setting Sydney, Australia. Cases A total of 705 cases of death due to opioid toxicity and 28 morphine positive homicide cases (1 January 1998-31 December 2002). Findings There was no significant difference between the median morphine concentrations of the overdose and homicide groups (0.50 versus 0.45 mg/l). The overdose group was more likely to have blood alcohol (OR 3.21) present, but less likely to have methadone (OR 0.26) and cannabis (OR 0.04). There was a significant negative correlation between blood morphine and alcohol concentrations among the overdose group (rho = -0.32), but not among the homicide group (rho = -0.03). Independent predictors of a higher blood morphine concentration were a lower alcohol concentration and a higher methadone concentration. Conclusions Morphine concentrations per se are not diagnostic of overdose. The study confirms the salience of concomitant alcohol consumption in such events.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0965-2140
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.01980.x
ID  - ref1
ER  -