Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Drug-related deaths during the 1980s

A comparative study of drug addict deaths examined at the institutes of forensic medicine in Aarhus, Denmark and Oslo, Norway

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
International Journal of Legal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Cases of fatal poisoning among drug addicts examined at the institutes of forensic medicine in Aarhus, Denmark (n = 238) and Oslo, Norway (n = 263) are compared and discussed on the basis of the availability of illicit and medical drugs during the 1980s. The annual number of deaths among drug addicts in age groups over 30 years increased, but there was no increase in the number of deaths among younger drug addicts in either country. More than 80% of the drug addicts in both samples were men. Heroin-/morphine-related deaths comprised three-quarters of the Norwegian material compared with one-third of the Danish material. The registered medical drugs propoxyphene, methadone and ketobemidone accounted for half of the Danish cases but only a small number of the Norwegian cases. Amphetamine caused few deaths in either country. Alcohol and benzodiazepines were present in more than one-third of the cases in both countries, indicating frequent use of these substances.

Zusammenfassung

Tödliche Vergiftungen Drogenabhängiger, untersucht in den Instituten für Forensische Medizin in Aarhus, Dänemark (n = 238) und Oslo, Norwegen (n = 263) werden verglichen und vor dem Hintergrund der Verfügbarkeit illegaler Drogen und mißbräuchlich verwendeter Arzneistoffe während der 80er Jahre diskutiert. Die jährliche Zahl von Todesfällen unter jungen Drogenabhängigen in den Altersklassen über 30 Jahren nahm zu, aber es gab in keinem der beiden Länder eine Zunahme der Zahl der Todesfälle unter jungen Drogenabhängigen. Mehr als 80% der Drogenabhängigen in beiden Kollektiven waren Männer. Heroin- und morphinbezogene Todesfälle machen Dreiviertel des norwegischen Materials aus, verglichen mit einem Drittel des dänischen Materials. Die dort rezeptpflichtigen Medikamente Dextropropoxyphen, Methadon und Ketobemidon standen für die Hälfte der dänischen Fälle, aber nur für eine kleine Zahl der norwegischen Fälle. Amphetamin verursachte wenige Todesfälle in jedem der beiden Länder. Alkohol und Benzodiazepine waren in mehr als einem Drittel der Fälle in beiden Ländern vorhanden. Dies weist auf einen häufigen Gebrauch dieser Substanzen hin.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Co-operation group to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking in drugs (Pompidou group) (1987) Multi-city study of drug misuse. Council of Europe, Strasbourg

  2. Spear HB (1983) Drug abuser deaths. Br J Addict 78:173–178

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hartnoll RL (1986) Current situation relating to drug abuse assessment in European countries. Bull Narc 38:65–80

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ingold FR (1986) Study of deaths related to drug abuse in France and Europe. Bull Narc 38:81–89

    Google Scholar 

  5. Janssen W, Trübner K, Püschel K (1989) Deaths caused by drug addiction: a review of the experiences in Hamburg and the situation in the Federal Republic of Germany in comparison with the literature. Forensic Sci Int 43:223–237

    Google Scholar 

  6. Steentoft A, Kaa E, Worm K (1989) Fatal intoxications in the age group 15-34 years in Denmark in 1984 and 1985. A forensic study with special reference to drug addicts. Z Rechtsmed 103:93–100

    Google Scholar 

  7. Filseth OM, Fossen K, Halvorsen, VB, Hjelle D, Ostheim E, Sortebogen M, Teige B, Ekeberg Ö (1991) Opiate-related deaths among drug abusers. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 111:1629–1632 (in Norwegian with an English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Tunving K (1988) Fatal outcome in drug addiction. Acta Psychiatr Scand 77:551–566

    Google Scholar 

  9. Logan BK, Oliver JS, Smith H (1987) The measurement and interpretation of morphine in blood. Forensic Sci Int 35:189–195

    Google Scholar 

  10. Teige B (1989) Definisjon av narkotikadödsfall i Norge. In: Tunving K, Olsson B, Krantz P (eds) Dödligheten bland narkotikamissbrukare i de nordiske länderna. Centralförbundet för alkohol- och narkotikaupplysning, Stockholm, pp 129–140 (in Norwegian)

  11. Steentoft A, Teige B, Ceder G, Holmgreen P, Kaa E, Kristenson J, Normann PT, Pikkarainen J (1989) Fatal intoxications in the Nordic countries. A forensic toxicological study with special reference to young drug addicts. Z Rechtsmed 102:355–365

    Google Scholar 

  12. National Commissioner of Police (1990) Annual Report of the Police. National Commissioner of Police, Copenhagen

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kringsholm B (1988) Deaths among drug addicts in Denmark in 1968–1986. Forensic Sci Int 38:139–149

    Google Scholar 

  14. Central Bureau of Statistics (1982-1991) Causes of Death 1980–1989. Kongsvinger, Oslo (in Norwegian)

    Google Scholar 

  15. National Bureau of Crime Investigation (1991) Efterretningsstatistik 1991. Kriminalpolitisentralen, Oslo (in Norwegian)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Olsson B (1989) Förslag till förbättringar av statistiken över dödligheten bland narkotikamissbrukere. In: Tunving K, Olsson B, Krantz P (eds) Dödligheten bland narkotikamisbrukare i de nordiske länderna. Centralfbrbundet för alkohol- och narkotikaupplysning, Stockholm, pp 141–146 (in Swedish)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Haastrup S, Jepsen PW (1984) Seven year follow-up of 300 young drug abusers. Acta Psychiatr Scand 70:503–509

    Google Scholar 

  18. Kaa E (1991) Street drugs in Denmark. J Forensic Sci 36:866–879

    Google Scholar 

  19. National Board of Health (1991) Alkohol- og narkotikanlisbruget 1985–1989. In: National Board of Health (ed) Forebyggelse og hygiejne 16. Copenhagen (in Danish)

  20. Skog OJ (1990) Utviklingen av intravenöst narkotikamisbruk i Norge. Anslag for insidens og prevalens. In: Statens Institutt for Alkohol- og Narkotikaforskning (ed) SIFA rapport No 1. Oslo (in Norwegian)

  21. Ghodse AH, Sheehan M, Taylor C, Edwards G (1985) Deaths of drug addicts in the United Kingdom 1967–81. BMJ 290:425–428

    Google Scholar 

  22. Rusmiddeldirektoratet & SIFA (1991) Alcohol and drugs in Norway in 1991. Rusmiddeldirektoratet & Statens Institutt for Alkohol- og Narkotikaforskning, Oslo

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kaa E (1992) Drug abuse in Western Denmark during the eighties. Part 1: Drugs of abuse. Part 2: Fatal poisonings among drug abusers. Forensic Sci Int 55:67–82

    Google Scholar 

  24. Perera KMH, Tulley M, Jenner FA (1987) The use of benzodiazepines among drug addicts. Br J Addict 82:511–515

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kaa E, Dalgaard J (1989) Fatal propoxyphene poisonings in Jutland (Denmark). Z Rechtsmed 102:107–115

    Google Scholar 

  26. Teige B, Kaa E, Bugge A (1988) A comparison of drug-related deaths in Oslo, Norway and Aarhus, Denmark. J Forensic Sci Soc 28:311–319

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Aarhus, Denmark

    Elisabet Kaa

  2. Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway

    Brita Teige

Authors
  1. Elisabet Kaa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Brita Teige
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kaa, E., Teige, B. Drug-related deaths during the 1980s. Int J Leg Med 106, 5–9 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01225016

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01225016

Key words

Schlüsselwörter

Search

Navigation