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The Heroin Overdose as a Method of Attempted Suicide
Author(s) -
Friedman Richard C.,
Friedman Judith Green,
Ramirez Terry
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
british journal of addiction to alcohol and other drugs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0007-0890
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1973.tb01234.x
Subject(s) - heroin , covert , drug overdose , methadone , medicine , etiology , psychiatry , heroin dependence , poison control , medical emergency , psychology , drug , linguistics , philosophy
Summary Thirteen of 103 patients at a methadone maintenance clinic admitted taking 33 heroin overdoses during their lives. Historical reconstruction revealed that most overdoses were covert suicide attempts. Only 12% were accidents due to variability of street samples. 38% of the covert suicide attempts were related to incarceration and the role of jail in contributing to the etiology of suicidal behavior in addicts is noted. Five cases are presented illustrating the causes of overdose in this group.