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Manners of Death in Drug‐Related Fatalities in Florida
Author(s) -
Lee Dayong,
Delcher Chris,
MaldonadoMolina Mildred M.,
Thogmartin Jon R.,
Goldberger Bruce A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12999
Subject(s) - homicide , accidental , medicine , drug overdose , forensic toxicology , poison control , injury prevention , drug , cause of death , suicide prevention , medical emergency , psychiatry , disease , physics , chemistry , chromatography , acoustics
To understand the mortality patterns among drug users and potential risk factors, we evaluated drug‐related deaths reported to the Florida Medical Examiners Commission from 2001 to 2013, by substances, demographics, and manner of death. The annual drug‐related fatalities increased by 57% from 2001 to 2013 (total n = 100,882); 51.8% were accidental, 7.9% homicide, 18.6% natural, and 19.6% suicide. The different manners of death exhibited distinct demographic profiles and drug composition. The gender gap was more prominent in homicide. Age ≥55 years was more closely associated with natural death and suicide. Age <35 years and central nervous system ( CNS ) stimulants including amphetamines and cocaine showed higher relative risks for accidental death and homicide, whereas CNS depressants including benzodiazepines, carisoprodol, opioids, and zolpidem were more strongly associated with accidental death and/or suicide. The findings aid in identifying populations more vulnerable to drug‐related deaths, developing targeted interventions and thereby improving efficiency of preventive efforts.