Psychoactive Drug Related Traumatic Deaths in Istanbul between 1990-2000

TOPRAK S., Sam B., Akgul E., Silan C., Baysal E.

ROMANIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL MEDICINE, vol.18, no.1, pp.69-74, 2010 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 18 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2010
  • Doi Number: 10.4323/rjlm.2010.69
  • Journal Name: ROMANIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL MEDICINE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.69-74
  • Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

 The objective of this study was to identify characteristics of drug related traumatic deaths in Istanbul between 1990 and 2000. This retrospective descriptive study was set in the Council of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Justice. During the period studied 143 people (86 % males, 14 % females) who took a drug died after traumatic events. The mean age was 37.7 ± 13.6 years. The most common causes of deaths were asphyxia and blunt force injury. Benzodiazepines, cannabis and heroin were the most commonly used drugs. While benzodiazepines are common in selfdirected violence cases such as suicide by asphyxia, cannabis was frequent among interpersonal violence cases as homicide by shooting.  Heroin was approximately equally seen in all traumatic deaths.  Benzodiazepine and heroin use are especially frequent among non-violence deaths (road traffic accidents). 

The objective of this study was to identify characteristics of drug related traumatic deaths in Istanbul between 1990 and 2000. This retrospective descriptive study was set in the Council of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Justice. During the period studied 143 people (86 % males, 14 % females) who took a drug died after traumatic events. The mean age was 37.7 +/- 13.6 years. The most common causes of deaths were asphyxia and blunt force injury. Benzodiazepines, cannabis and heroin were the most commonly used drugs. While benzodiazepines are common in self-directed violence cases such as suicide by asphyxia, cannabis was frequent among interpersonal violence cases as homicide by shooting. Heroin was approximately equally seen in all traumatic deaths. Benzodiazepine and heroin use are especially frequent among non-violence deaths (road traffic accidents).