Cocaine-related deaths: An enigma still under investigation

Abstract In recent years there has been an increase interest in cocaine-related death reflecting the rising trend in cocaine use in Europe. Nevertheless is still now very difficult to attribute a death to cocaine. We can affirm that cocaine can be responsible for the cause of death only when there i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forensic science international 2008-04, Vol.176 (2), p.121-123
Main Authors: Bertol, Elisabetta, Trignano, Claudia, Di Milia, Maria Grazia, Di Padua, Marianna, Mari, Francesco
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Brain - pathology
Brain Chemistry
Cause of death
Cocaine
Cocaine - analogs & derivatives
Cocaine - analysis
Cocaine - poisoning
Cocaine-related cases
Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors - analysis
Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors - poisoning
Drug dosages
Drug Overdose
Fatalities
Forensic medicine
Forensic sciences
Forensic Toxicology - methods
General aspects
Humans
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Medical sciences
Metabolites
Pathology
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Ratios
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Summary:Abstract In recent years there has been an increase interest in cocaine-related death reflecting the rising trend in cocaine use in Europe. Nevertheless is still now very difficult to attribute a death to cocaine. We can affirm that cocaine can be responsible for the cause of death only when there is a reasonably complete understanding of the circumstances or facts surrounding the death. Isolated blood cocaine levels are not enough to assess lethality, should be always considered and evaluated in relation to concentrations of cocaine and benzoylecgonine concentrations in body tissue compartments, especially in brain and blood. We have reanalyzed all of our cocaine-related case from 1990 to 2005, applying the methodology used by Spielher and Reed over 30 years ago. Our aim was to try to validate this model and verify its applicability and effectiveness after 20 years.
ISSN:0379-0738
1872-6283
DOI:10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.07.011