Alcohol and cocaine use prior to suspected suicide: Insights from toxicology

Introduction This study investigates whether there is a relationship between alcohol and cocaine use in deaths where suicide by self‐injury is the suspected cause of death. Methods Adults referred by coroners to the Imperial College London Toxicology Unit for toxicological analysis between 2012 and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Drug and alcohol review 2021-11, Vol.40 (7), p.1195-1201
Main Authors: Bailey, James, Kalk, Nicola J., Andrews, Rebecca, Yates, Sarah, Nahar, Limon, Kelleher, Michael, Paterson, Susan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Alcohol
Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology
Alcohol use
Blood Alcohol Content
Blood alcohol level
Cocaine
Coroners
Ethanol
Humans
Injuries
Intoxication
Prevention programs
Prioritizing
Suicide
Toxicology
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Summary:Introduction This study investigates whether there is a relationship between alcohol and cocaine use in deaths where suicide by self‐injury is the suspected cause of death. Methods Adults referred by coroners to the Imperial College London Toxicology Unit for toxicological analysis between 2012 and 2016 were reviewed for inclusion criteria. Those who died by self‐injury reasoned to be deliberate were included in the analysis. Femoral blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and presence of cocaine or benzoylecognine (a metabolite of cocaine) in blood and/or urine were tabulated and odds ratios calculated. Results A total of 1722 decedents met inclusion criteria. BAC was ≥50 mg/dL in 29% of decedents. Cocaine was detected in 8.4% of cases. The likelihood of testing positive for cocaine increased with BAC and was most frequent between 100 and 199 mg/dL, consistent with moderate to severe intoxication (odds ratio 5.88, 95% confidence interval 3.80, 9.09; P ≤ 0.001) compared to those with BAC
ISSN:0959-5236
1465-3362
DOI:10.1111/dar.13260