Heroin-related deaths in regional New South Wales, 1992-96
Authors: Darke S.; Ross J.
Source: Drug and Alcohol Review, Volume 19, Number 1, 1 March 2000 , pp. 35-40(6)
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd
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Abstract:
The coronial files of all 188 heroin-related fatalities that occurred in regional New South Wales between 1992 and 1996 were inspected. There was a significant increase in fatalities, rising from 23 deaths in 1992 to 53 during 1996. The regions in which the most deaths occurred were Wollongong/ Illawarra (43 deaths), Newcastle/Hunter (35) and the far north coast (25). The mean age of cases was 31.5 years and 83% were male, and there were no significant trends in demographic characteristics of cases over the study period. The median blood morphine concentration of cases was 0.39mg/l (range 0.05-4.5mg/l). Alcohol was detected in 50% of cases and benzodiazepines in 29%. There were large regional variations in toxicology results, with median blood morphine concentrations ranging from 0.25mg/l among south coast cases to 0.56mg/l in mid-western New South Wales. Compared to Sydney metropolitan cases, regional cases had a higher median blood morphine concentration, were less likely to have cocaine detected, were more likely to have died in a home environment and to have been born in Australia.
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