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Appendix 1
Notes on the definition of 'drug-related' deaths
1. The definition of a 'drug-related death' is not
straightforward. A useful discussion on the definitional
problems may be found in an article in the Office for
National Statistics publication Population Trends. More
recently, a report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of
Drugs (
ACMD) considered current systems used in
the United Kingdom to collect and analyse data on drug
related deaths. In its report, the
ACMD recommended that 'a short life
technical working group should be brought together to reach
agreement on a consistent coding framework to be used in
future across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern
Ireland'.
GROS was represented on this group and
this paper presents information on drug-related deaths
using the approach agreed.
2. The baseline covers the following cause of death
categories (the relevant codes from the International
Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (
ICD10), are given in brackets):
- deaths where the underlying cause of death has been
coded to the following sub-categories of 'mental and
behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance
use':
- opioids (F11);
- cannabinoids (F12);
- sedatives or hypnotics (F13);
- cocaine (F14);
- other stimulants, including caffeine
(F15);
- hallucinogens (F16); and
- multiple drug use and use of other psychoactive
substances (F19).
- deaths coded to the following categories and where
a drug listed under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) was
known to be present in the body at the time of death:
- accidental poisoning (X40 - X44);
- intentional self-poisoning by drugs,
medicaments and biological substances (X60 -
X64);
- assault by drugs, medicaments and biological
substances (X85); and
- event of undetermined intent, poisoning (Y10 -
Y14).
3. Categories of death excluded:
- deaths coded to mental and behavioural disorders
due to the use of alcohol (F10), tobacco (F17) and
volatile substances (F18);
- deaths coded to drug abuse which were caused by
secondary infections and related complications (for
example the 20 or so deaths in 2000 caused by
clostridium novyi infection);
- deaths from
AIDS where the risk factor was
believed to be the sharing of needles;
- deaths from road traffic and other accidents which
occurred under the influence of drugs; and
- deaths where a drug listed under the Misuse of
Drugs Act was present because it was part of a compound
analgesic or cold remedy: specific examples are:
Co-proxamol: paracetamol,
dextropropoxyphene
Co-dydramol: paracetamol,
dihydrocodeine
Co-codamol: paracetamol, codeine
sulphate
- All three of these compound analgesics, but
particularly co-proxamol, are commonly used in suicidal
overdoses.
- Note: As it is believed that dextropropoxyphene is
rarely if ever available other than as a constituent of
a paracetamol compound, it has been ignored on all
occasions (even if there is no mention of a compound
analgesic or paracetamol). However, deaths involving
codeine or dihydrocodeine without mention of
paracetamol have been included in the baseline as these
drugs are routinely available on their own and known to
be abused in this form.
Source: General Register Office for Scotland (2004)
Drug related deaths in Scotland in 2003.
Appendix 2
Table A2.1: Characteristics of and trends in
drug-related deaths during 1996-2003 among persons aged
15-54 years in Scotland
Characteristics of death | Calendar year of death | Total | Annual change*
% (95%
CI) |
|---|
1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|
All | 234 (100%) | 210 (100%) | 236 (100%) | 284 (100%) | 284 (100%) | 319 (100%) | 372 (100%) | 301 (100%) | 2240 (100%) | 6.7 (4.8, 8.7) |
|---|
Cause of death: |
|---|
Drug abuse/accidental poisoning | 183 (78%) | 153 (73%) | 191 (81%) | 239 (84%) | 230 (81%) | 244 (76%) | 294 (79%) | 228 (76%) | 1762 (79%) | 6.6 (4.4, 8.8) |
|---|
Intentional self-poisoning | 35 (15%) | 32 (15%) | 24 (10%) | 13 (5%) | 30 (11%) | 26 (8%) | 25 (7%) | 31 (10%) | 216 (9%) | -1.7 (-7.3, 4.1) |
|---|
Undetermined | 16 (7%) | 25 (12%) | 21 (9%) | 32 (11%) | 24 (8%) | 49 (15%) | 53 (14%) | 42 (14%) | 262 (12%) | 16.0 (9.8, 22.5) |
|---|
Day of week | Mon-Thurs | 121 (52%) | 101 (48%) | 123 (52%) | 137 (48%) | 153 (54%) | 165 (52%) | 206 (55%) | 154 (51%) | 1160 (52%) | 7.7 (5.0, 10.5) |
|---|
Fri-Sun | 113 (48%) | 109 (52%) | 113 (48%) | 147 (52%) | 131 (46%) | 154 (48%) | 166 (45%) | 147 (49%) | 1080 (48%) | 5.7 (3.0, 8.5) |
|---|
Gender | Male | 180 (77%) | 170 (81%) | 188 (80%) | 232 (82%) | 234 (82%) | 261 (82%) | 315 (85%) | 245 (81%) | 1825 (81%) | 7.6 (5.5, 9.8) |
|---|
Female | 54 (23%) | 40 (19%) | 48 (20%) | 52 (18%) | 50 (18%) | 58 (18%) | 57 (15%) | 56 (19%) | 415 (19%) | 3.0 (-1.3, 7.4) |
|---|
Age (years) | 15-24 | 86 (37%) | 76 (36%) | 87 (37%) | 94 (33%) | 73 (26%) | 79 (25%) | 100 (27%) | 78 (26%) | 673 (30%) | 0.3 (-3.0, 3.6) |
|---|
25-34 | 103 (44%) | 89 (42%) | 103 (44%) | 118 (42%) | 126 (44%) | 140 (44%) | 153 (41%) | 123 (41%) | 955 (43%) | 6.0 (3.1, 9.0) |
|---|
35-54 | 45 (19%) | 45 (21%) | 46 (20%) | 72 (25%) | 85 (30%) | 100 (31%) | 119 (32%) | 100 (33%) | 612 (27%) | 16.0 (11.9, 20.2) |
|---|
* Derived from Poisson regression.
Table A2.1: Characteristics of and trends in
drug-related deaths during 1996-2003 among persons aged
15-54 years in Scotland (Continued)
Characteristics of death | Calendar year of death | Total | Annual change*
% (95%
CI) |
|---|
1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|
Health-board | Glasgow | 89 (38%) | 63 (30%) | 90 (38%) | 99 (35%) | 103 (36%) | 93 (29%) | 124 (33%) | 104 (35%) | 765 (34%) | 5.4 (2.2, 8.8) |
|---|
Lothian | 55 (24%) | 44 (21%) | 34 (14%) | 37 (13%) | 36 (13%) | 53 (17%) | 38 (10%) | 35 (12%) | 332 (15%) | -3.2 (-7.7, 1.4) |
|---|
Grampian | 28 (12%) | 21 (10%) | 25 (11%) | 38 (13%) | 31 (11%) | 45 (14%) | 45 (12%) | 36 (12%) | 269 (12%) | 8.5 (2.9, 14.4) |
|---|
Argyll & Clyde | 17 (7%) | 15 (7%) | 23 (10%) | 29 (10%) | 29 (10%) | 20 (6%) | 31 (8%) | 26 (9%) | 190 (9%) | 7.0 (0.5, 13.9) |
|---|
Lanarkshire | 11 (5%) | 11 (5%) | 21 (9%) | 22 (8%) | 28 (10%) | 24 (8%) | 36 (10%) | 25 (8%) | 178 (8%) | 13.8 (6.6, 21.6) |
|---|
Tayside | 22 (9%) | 28 (13%) | 19 (8%) | 14 (5%) | 13 (5%) | 17 (5%) | 14 (4%) | 18 (6%) | 145 (7%) | -6.7 (-13.1, 0.2) |
|---|
Ayrshire & Arran | 3 (1%) | 6 (3%) | 4 (2%) | 15 (5%) | 19 (7%) | 34 (11%) | 31 (8%) | 17 (6%) | 129 (6%) | 28.3 (18.1, 39.4) |
|---|
Elsewhere | 9 (4%) | 22 (10%) | 20 (8%) | 30 (11%) | 25 (9%) | 33 (10%) | 53 (14%) | 40 (13%) | 232 (10%) | 18.8 (12.0, 26.0) |
|---|
Drugs detected: | Heroin | 82 (35%) | 73 (35%) | 116 (49%) | 163 (57%) | 186 (66%) | 201 (63%) | 224 (60%) | 164 (55%) | 1209 (54%) | 13.8 (10.9, 16.7) |
|---|
Methadone | 99 (42%) | 86 (41%) | 64 (27%) | 63 (22%) | 55 (19%) | 69 (22%) | 98 (26%) | 86 (29%) | 620 (28%) | -0.4 (-3.7, 3.1) |
|---|
Benzodiazepines | 114 (49%) | 102 (49%) | 142 (60%) | 163 (57%) | 161 (57%) | 177 (56%) | 243 (65%) | 178 (59%) | 1280 (57%) | 9.9 (7.3, 12.6) |
|---|
Cocaine | 3 (1%) | 5 (2%) | 4 (2%) | 12 (4%) | 4 (1%) | 19 (6%) | 31 (8%) | 28 (9%) | 106 (5%) | 41.2 (27.9, 55.9) |
|---|
Alcohol | 84 (36%) | 61 (29%) | 83 (35%) | 86 (30%) | 122 (43%) | 137 (43%) | 152 (41%) | 121 (40%) | 846 (38%) | 10.9 (7.7, 14.3) |
|---|
* Derived from Poisson regression.
Table A2.2: Characteristics of and trends in
heroin/morphine-related deaths during 1996-2003 among
persons aged 15-54 years in Scotland
Characteristics of death | Calendar year of death | Total | Annual change* % (95%
CI) |
|---|
1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|
All | 82 (100%) | 73 (100%) | 116 (100%) | 163 (100%) | 186 (100%) | 201 (100%) | 224 (100%) | 164 (100%) | 1209 (100%) | 13.8 (10.9, 16.7) |
|---|
Cause of death: |
|---|
Drug abuse/accidental poisoning | 76 (93%) | 67 (92%) | 106 (91%) | 150 (92%) | 171 (92%) | 175 (87%) | 192 (86%) | 144 (88%) | 1081 (89%) | 12.6 (9.7, 15.7) |
|---|
Intentional self-poisoning | 5 (6%) | 2 (3%) | 6 (5%) | 2 (1%) | 8 (4%) | 7 (3%) | 7 (3%) | 5 (3%) | 42 (4%) | 8.1 (-5.4, 23.5) |
|---|
Undetermined | 1 (1%) | 4 (5%) | 4 (3%) | 11 (7%) | 7 (4%) | 19 (9%) | 25 (11%) | 15 (9%) | 86 (7%) | 34.3 (20.9, 49.1) |
|---|
Day of week | Mon-Thurs | 52 (63%) | 41 (56%) | 71 (61%) | 77 (47%) | 99 (53%) | 110 (55%) | 134 (60%) | 84 (51%) | 668 (55%) | 12.7 (9.0, 16.6) |
|---|
Fri-Sun | 30 (37%) | 32 (44%) | 45 (39%) | 86 (53%) | 87 (47%) | 91 (45%) | 90 (40%) | 80 (49%) | 541 (45%) | 15.0 (10.7, 19.5) |
|---|
Gender | Male | 71 (87%) | 58 (79%) | 97 (84%) | 140 (86%) | 158 (85%) | 180 (90%) | 194 (87%) | 149 (91%) | 1047 (87%) | 14.9 (11.8, 18.0) |
|---|
Female | 11 (13%) | 15 (21%) | 19 (16%) | 23 (14%) | 28 (15%) | 21 (10%) | 30 (13%) | 15 (9%) | 162 (13%) | 7.0 (0.0, 14.5) |
|---|
Age (years) | 15-24 | 23 (28%) | 22 (30%) | 36 (31%) | 53 (33%) | 51 (27%) | 49 (24%) | 51 (23%) | 35 (21%) | 320 (26%) | 8.3 (3.2, 13.7) |
|---|
25-34 | 45 (55%) | 37 (51%) | 55 (47%) | 75 (46%) | 83 (45%) | 92 (46%) | 91 (41%) | 77 (47%) | 555 (46%) | 11.2 (7.2, 15.4) |
|---|
35-54 | 14 (17%) | 14 (19%) | 25 (22%) | 35 (22%) | 52 (28%) | 60 (30%) | 82 (37%) | 52 (32%) | 334 (28%) | 24.4 (18.3, 30.8) |
|---|
* Derived from Poisson regression.
Table A2.2: Characteristics of and trends in
heroin/morphine-related deaths during 1996-2003 among
persons aged 15-54 years in Scotland
(Continued)
Characteristics of death | Calendar year of death | Total | Annual change*
% (95%
CI) |
|---|
1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|
Health-board | Glasgow | 57 (70%) | 37 (51%) | 65 (56%) | 69 (42%) | 85 (46%) | 78 (39%) | 93 (42%) | 60 (37%) | 544 (45%) | 6.5 (2.6, 10.5) |
|---|
Lothian | 4 (5%) | 3 (4%) | 6 (5%) | 6 (4%) | 11 (6%) | 21 (10%) | 4 (2%) | 4 (2%) | 59 (5%) | 9.4 (-2.3, 22.4) |
|---|
Grampian | 9 (11%) | 10 (14%) | 13 (11%) | 26 (16%) | 17 (9%) | 28 (14%) | 31 (14%) | 25 (15%) | 159 (13%) | 16.8 (8.9, 25.4) |
|---|
Argyll & Clyde | 3 (4%) | 7 (10%) | 15 (13%) | 21 (13%) | 25 (13%) | 16 (8%) | 25 (11%) | 22 (13%) | 134 (11%) | 18.3 (9.5, 27.9) |
|---|
Lanarkshire | 4 (5%) | 6 (8%) | 12 (10%) | 16 (10%) | 20 (11%) | 17 (8%) | 23 (10%) | 19 (12%) | 117 (10%) | 19.2 (9.7, 29.5) |
|---|
Tayside | 2 (2%) | 1 (1%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (1%) | 3 (2%) | 4 (2%) | 2 (1%) | 8 (5%) | 21 (2%) | 35.4 (9.3, 67.8) |
|---|
Ayrshire & Arran | 2 (2%) | 2 (3%) | 2 (2%) | 7 (4%) | 13 (7%) | 20 (10%) | 22 (10%) | 11 (7%) | 79 (7%) | 35.4 (9.3, 67.8) |
|---|
Elsewhere | 1 (1%) | 7 (10%) | 3 (3%) | 17 (10%) | 12 (6%) | 17 (8%) | 24 (11%) | 15 (9%) | 96 (8%) | 25.9 (14.5, 38.4) |
|---|
Drugs detected: | Methadone | 11 (13%) | 12 (16%) | 12 (10%) | 17 (10%) | 19 (10%) | 29 (14%) | 32 (14%) | 22 (13%) | 154 (13%) | 15.7 (7.7, 24.2) |
|---|
Benzodiazepines | 37 (45%) | 37 (51%) | 70 (60%) | 97 (60%) | 109 (59%) | 117 (58%) | 166 (74%) | 103 (63%) | 736 (61%) | 18.3 (14.5, 22.3) |
|---|
Cocaine | 2 (2%) | 1 (1%) | 3 (3%) | 5 (3%) | 4 (2%) | 12 (6%) | 16 (7%) | 21 (13%) | 64 (5%) | 50.2 (31.2, 71.9) |
|---|
Alcohol | 39 (48%) | 23 (32%) | 49 (42%) | 55 (34%) | 81 (44%) | 96 (48%) | 109 (49%) | 75 (46%) | 527 (44%) | 17.1 (12.6, 21.7) |
|---|
* Derived from Poisson regression.
Table A2.3: Characteristics of and trends in
methadone-related deaths during 1996-2003 among persons
aged 15-54 years in Scotland
Characteristics of death | Calendar year of death | Total | Annual change* % (95%
CI) |
|---|
1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|
All | 99 (100%) | 86 (100%) | 64 (100%) | 63 (100%) | 55 (100%) | 69 (100%) | 98 (100%) | 86 (100%) | 620 (100%) | -0.4 (-3.7, 3.1) |
|---|
Cause of death: |
|---|
Drug abuse/accidental poisoning | 86 (87%) | 67 (78%) | 57 (89%) | 59 (94%) | 49 (89%) | 59 (86%) | 78 (80%) | 71 (83%) | 526 (85%) | -1.0 (-4.6, 2.8) |
|---|
Intentional self-poisoning | 8 (8%) | 7 (8%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 2 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 6 (6%) | 8 (9%) | 31 (5%) | -0.9 (-15.0, 15.5) |
|---|
Undetermined | 5 (5%) | 12 (14%) | 7 (11%) | 4 (6%) | 4 (7%) | 10 (14%) | 14 (14%) | 7 (8%) | 63 (10%) | 5.1 (-5.6, 17.1) |
|---|
Day of week | Mon-Thurs | 36 (36%) | 39 (45%) | 23 (36%) | 27 (43%) | 32 (58%) | 37 (54%) | 46 (47%) | 39 (45%) | 279 (45%) | 3.6 (-1.6, 9.0) |
|---|
Fri-Sun | 63 (64%) | 47 (55%) | 41 (64%) | 36 (57%) | 23 (42%) | 32 (46%) | 52 (53%) | 47 (55%) | 341 (55%) | -3.5 (-7.9, 1.1) |
|---|
Gender | Male | 75 (76%) | 71 (83%) | 54 (84%) | 49 (78%) | 42 (76%) | 55 (80%) | 79 (81%) | 65 (76%) | 490 (79%) | -0.7 (-4.4, 3.3) |
|---|
Female | 24 (24%) | 15 (17%) | 10 (16%) | 14 (22%) | 13 (24%) | 14 (20%) | 19 (19%) | 21 (24%) | 130 (21%) | 0.7 (-6.5, 8.6) |
|---|
Age (years) | 15-24 | 46 (47%) | 40 (47%) | 31 (48%) | 27 (43%) | 16 (29%) | 21 (30%) | 29 (30%) | 25 (29%) | 235 (38%) | -9.5 (-14.5, -4.2) |
|---|
25-34 | 41 (41%) | 37 (43%) | 25 (39%) | 22 (35%) | 24 (44%) | 35 (51%) | 46 (47%) | 37 (43%) | 267 (43%) | 1.8 (-3.4, 7.2) |
|---|
35-54 | 12 (12%) | 9 (11%) | 8 (13%) | 14 (22%) | 15 (27%) | 13 (19%) | 23 (24%) | 24 (28%) | 118 (19%) | 15.0 (6.1, 24.8) |
|---|
* Derived from Poisson regression.
Table A2.3: Characteristics of and trends in
methadone-related deaths during 1996-2003 among persons
aged 15-54 years in Scotland (Continued)
Characteristics of death | Calendar year of death | Total | Annual change*
% (95%
CI) |
|---|
1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|
Health-board | Glasgow | 25 (25%) | 17 (20%) | 14 (22%) | 19 (30%) | 14 (25%) | 12 (17%) | 33 (34%) | 39 (45%) | 173 (28%) | 9.7 (2.7, 17.2) |
|---|
Lothian | 38 (38%) | 31 (36%) | 23 (36%) | 19 (30%) | 9 (16%) | 14 (20%) | 22 (22%) | 19 (22%) | 175 (28%) | -11.2 (-16.9, -5.1) |
|---|
Grampian | 10 (10%) | 8 (9%) | 5 (8%) | 7 (11%) | 8 (15%) | 9 (13%) | 11 (11%) | 5 (6%) | 63 (10%) | -1.1 (-11.2, 10.2) |
|---|
Argyll & Clyde | 7 (7%) | 4 (5%) | 4 (6%) | 2 (3%) | 7 (13%) | 6 (9%) | 8 (8%) | 4 (5%) | 42 (7%) | 2.3 (-10.3, 16.7) |
|---|
Lanarkshire | 1 (1%) | 2 (2%) | 5 (8%) | 3 (5%) | 2 (4%) | 3 (4%) | 6 (6%) | 4 (5%) | 26 (4%) | 13.5 (-4.4, 34.8) |
|---|
Tayside | 14 (14%) | 17 (20%) | 9 (14%) | 7 (11%) | 7 (13%) | 12 (17%) | 2 (2%) | 2 (2%) | 70 (11%) | -19.3 (-27.7, -9.9) |
|---|
Ayrshire & Arran | 1 (1%) | 3 (3%) | 1 (2%) | 4 (6%) | 1 (2%) | 6 (9%) | 8 (8%) | 4 (5%) | 28 (5%) | 22.9 (3.4, 46.1) |
|---|
Elsewhere | 3 (3%) | 4 (5%) | 3 (5%) | 2 (3%) | 7 (13%) | 7 (10%) | 8 (8%) | 9 (10%) | 43 (7%) | 19.9 (4.5, 37.5) |
|---|
Drugs detected: | Heroin | 11 (11%) | 12 (14%) | 12 (19%) | 17 (27%) | 19 (35%) | 29 (42%) | 32 (33%) | 22 (26%) | 154 (25%) | 15.7 (7.7, 24.2) |
|---|
Benzodiazepines | 50 (51%) | 48 (56%) | 48 (75%) | 44 (70%) | 35 (64%) | 43 (62%) | 69 (70%) | 60 (70%) | 397 (64%) | 3.7 (-0.7, 8.3) |
|---|
Cocaine | 0 (0%) | 1 (1%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (2%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 6 (6%) | 7 (8%) | 15 (2%) | 89.7 (32.6, 171) |
|---|
Alcohol | 25 (25%) | 20 (23%) | 16 (25%) | 14 (22%) | 19 (35%) | 27 (39%) | 28 (29%) | 22 (26%) | 171 (28%) | 3.2 (-3.3, 10.2) |
|---|
* Derived from Poisson regression
Appendix 3
Figure A3.1: Distribution of blood morphine
concentrations (n=176)
Figure A3.2: Distribution of blood methadone
concentrations (n=80)
Figure A3.3: Distribution of blood alcohol
concentrations (n=153)
Table A3.4: Comparison of drug related deaths
in Scotland and London
Characteristic | Scotland | London | Test of Difference |
|---|
Total | 273 | 148 | |
|---|
Sex |
|---|
% (n) male | 81.7% | (223) | 81.1% | (120) | NS* |
|---|
Age |
|---|
Mean (median) age | 31.8 | (31) | 35.7 | (34) | p < 0.001^ |
|---|
Toxicology |
|---|
Heroin/morphine | 65.6% | (179) | 66.9% | (99) | NS* |
|---|
Methadone | 30.4% | (83) | 31.8% | (47) | NS* |
|---|
Cocaine | 9.9% | (27) | 41.9% | (62) | p < 0.001* |
|---|
MDMA/Amphetamines | 9.5% | (26) | 12.2% | (18) | NS* |
|---|
Alcohol | 54.9% | (150) | 56.1% | (83) | NS* |
|---|
Benzodiazepines | 69.2% | (189) | 40.5% | (60) | p < 0.001* |
|---|
Dihydrocodeine | 18.7% | (51) | 10.8% | (16) | p = 0.03* |
|---|
Mean (median) heroin toxicology (mg/L) | 0.27 | (0.2) | 0.36 | (0.26) | p = 0.045^ |
|---|
Mean (median) methadone toxicology
(mg/L) | 0.52 | (0.309) | 0.87 | (0.54) | p < 0.01^ |
|---|
Mean (median) alcohol toxicology
(ml/100ml) | 119.6 | 104 | 87.1 | 59 | p = 0.01^ |
|---|
Substitute treatment |
|---|
yes | 25.6% | 70 | 27.7% | 41 | NS* |
|---|
methadone | 17.9% | 49 | 25.0% | 37 | NS* |
|---|
DHD | 8.4% | 23 | 2.7% | 4 | p=0.03* |
|---|
Deaths with positive methadone toxicology
and evidence of methadone
prescription | 51.8% | 43 | 55.3% | 26 | NS* |
|---|
Deaths with positive
DHD toxicology
and evidence of
DHD prescription | 35.3% | 18 | 12.5% | 2 | NS* |
|---|
Prison history |
|---|
yes | 47.6% | 130 | 40.5% | 60 | NS* |
|---|
released < 3 months | 17.2% | 47 | 10.1% | 15 | p=0.05 |
|---|
Witness present |
|---|
yes | 48.4% | (132) | 60.8% | (90) | p < 0.01* |
|---|
Ambulance called |
|---|
yes | 81.7% | (223) | 90.5% | (134) | p < 0.05* |
|---|
If ambulance called, dead on
arrival |
|---|
yes | 85.2% | (190) | 85.1% | (114) | NS* |
|---|
Known
IDU |
|---|
yes | 53.8% | (147) | 60.8% | (90) | NS* |
|---|
Route of fatal dose |
|---|
Inject | 54.6% | (149) | 64.9% | (96) | p < 0.05* |
|---|
Non-inject | 43.6% | (119) | 26.4% | (39) | |
|---|
Not able to be determined | 11.7% | (32) | 10.8% | (16) | |
|---|
Usual type of
accommodation |
|---|
house/flat | 81.3% | (222) | 67.6% | (100) | p < 0.01* |
|---|
hotel/motel | 2.9% | (8) | 2.7% | (4) | |
|---|
hostel resident | 7.3% | (20) | 7.4% | (11) | |
|---|
street homeless | 1.8% | (5) | 5.4% | (8) | |
|---|
caravan/camper/car | 0.7% | (2) | 2.0% | (3) | |
|---|
roofless/sofa surfer | 4.0% | (11) | 6.8% | (10) | |
|---|
other | 0.0% | | 4.1% | (6) | |
|---|
unknown | 1.8% | (5) | 4.1% | (6) | |
|---|
Place of death |
|---|
own home | 47.6% | (130) | 43.9% | (65) | NS* |
|---|
home of family/friend | 27.1% | (74) | 20.3% | (30) | |
|---|
hotel/motel/hostel | 8.8% | (24) | 11.5% | (17) | |
|---|
public space | 3.7% | (10) | 7.4% | (11) | |
|---|
hospital | 8.8% | (24) | 11.5% | (17) | |
|---|
other | 3.7% | (10) | 4.7% | (7) | |
|---|
unknown | 0.4% | (1) | 0.7% | (1) | |
|---|
Time of death |
|---|
Rapid/instant | 9.2% | (25) | 6.8% | (10) | p < 0.01* |
|---|
Within the hour | 15.4% | (42) | 6.1% | (9) | |
|---|
Several hours | 44.7% | (122) | 27.7% | (41) | |
|---|
12 hours or more | 2.9% | (8) | 3.4% | (5) | |
|---|
A number of days | 0.7% | (2) | 3.4% | (5) | |
|---|
Not able to be determined | 27.1% | (74) | 52.7% | (78) | |
|---|
Note: ^ T-test, * Chi2
Appendix 4
Table A4.1: List of potential interventions offered to
cases of drug-related death in the 6 months prior to death
(n=237)
A. SOCIAL | B. MEDICAL |
1. Food distribution | 20. Medical consultation |
2. Clothes washing | 21. Other medical care |
3. Clothing distribution | 22. General
hospitalisation |
4. Shower/hygiene | 23. Nursing care |
5. Help finding
accommodation | 24. General emergency |
6. Night shelter | 25. General prevention and health
promotion |
7. Accommodation | |
8. Emergency social
accommodation | D. MENTAL HEALTH |
9. Social reintegration, help
finding work | |
10. Legal/administrative advice or
aid | 60. Emergency psychiatric
care |
11. Financial assistance | 61. Outpatient psychiatric
consultation |
12. Travel expenses | 62. On-site delivery of
psychotropic treatment |
13. Prison work | 63. Individual
psychotherapy |
14. Prison Transitional Care/Community | 64. Psychiatric
hospitalisation |
| 65. Family therapy |
C. CARE STRATEGY | 66. Group therapy |
| 67. Psychological
consultation |
80. Somewhere to sit | 68. Occupational therapy |
81. A place to talk | 69. Discussion groups |
82. Low threshold/drop in | |
83. Case management | E. SUBSTANCE ABUSE |
84. To speak to Mr/Mrs X | |
85. Information and
orientation | 40. Substance misuse
assessment |
86. Support and training for carers | 41. Substitution programme |
87. Holistic care | 42. Detoxification (short term
reduction) |
88. Street outreach work | 43. On-site needle/syringe exchange |
89. Care at client's home | 44. Outreach needle/syringe
exchange |
90. Day care | 45. Counselling |
91. Advocacy | 46. Drug Treatment & Testing
Order |
| 47. Put on Waiting list |
| 48. Motivational enhancement |
Interventions highlighted in bold text are those which
were recorded as having been offered to individuals.
Table A4.2: Prescribing details of cases in
methadone treatment at time of death (n=40)
Case
ID | Dose at death (mg) | Duration of last dose
(weeks) | Previous dose (mg) | Duration of methadone
treatment (months) |
|---|
134 | - | - | - | - |
246 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 7 |
152 | 10 | 5 days | 12 | 5 |
8 | 16 | 6 | 15 | N/K*** |
202 | 20 | 3 | 13 | 7 |
175 | 30 | 1 day | 10 | 16 |
136 | 30 | - | nr | 82 |
144 | 30 | - | 35 | 88 |
32 | 30 | 7 days | 50 | 30 |
259 | 35 | 24 | 40 | N/K |
216 | 40 | 10 days | 30 | 2 |
169 | 45 | - | nr | N/K |
174 | 45 | 9 | 35 | 5 |
271 | 45 | 15 | 35 | 37 |
287 | 45 | - | nr | N/K |
187 | 45 | 10 days | 40 | 5 |
190 | 50 | - | 30 | N/K |
198 | 50 | 4 | 40 | 6 days |
73 | 50 | 3 days | Nr | 3 days |
132 | 50 | 12 | 40 | N/K |
282 | 50 | 20 | 55 | N/K |
252 | 50 | 4 | 40 | 5 |
262 | 50 | 21 | 45 | 6 |
232 | 50 | 7 days | 40 | 19 |
| 50 | 14 | 40 | 18 |
| 60 | 8 | 55 | 10 |
234 | 60 | 8 days | 50 | 73 |
| 65 | 2 | 58 | 84 |
166 | 65 | 4 | 60 | 5 |
76 | 70 | 2 | Nr | <1 |
54 | 80 | -* | Nr** | N/K |
204 | 80 | - | 70 | 2 |
206 | 80 | 16 | 70 | 17 |
220 | 80 | 2 days | Nr | 2 days |
118 | 80 | - | Nr | N/K |
24 | 90 | 32 | 80 | 5 |
61 | 90 | 5 | Nr | 1 |
256 | 90 | 4 | 110 | 5 |
7 | 95 | 52 | 100 | 40 |
108 | 100 | 52 | Nr | 12 |
*-=no information
**nr=no dose change recorded in notes
***N/K=not known
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