Trends in licit and illicit drug-related deaths in Florida from 2001 to 2012

• Published in: Forensic science international Vol. 245; pp. 178 - 186
• Main Authors: Lee, Dayong, Delcher, Chris, Maldonado-Molina, Mildred M, Bazydlo, Lindsay A.L, Thogmartin, Jon R, Goldberger, Bruce A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.12.2014; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Accidents - mortality; Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Continental Population Groups - statistics & numerical data; Drug overdose; Drug Overdose - mortality; Drug use; Drug-related mortality; Ethanol; Fatalities; Female; Florida - epidemiology; Florida Medical Examiners Commission; Forensic sciences; Forensic toxicology; Heroin; Homicide - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Illicit drugs; Licit drugs; Male; Middle Aged; Pathology; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Poisoning - mortality; Sex Distribution; Street Drugs - poisoning; Substance-Related Disorders - mortality; Suicide - statistics & numerical data; Young Adult; Florida; United States > US; Illicit drugs; Forensic toxicology; Ethanol; Drug-related mortality; Florida Medical Examiners Commission; Licit drugs
• ISSN: 0379-0738; 1872-6283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.10.024

Highlights • Florida drug-related mortality was evaluated by time trends, demographics, and correlations. • The majority of drug-caused deaths were accidental and the half involved polydrug use. • Overall decline was observed in benzodiazepines- and opioids-caused deaths in 2011–2012. • Heroin-caused mortality concurrently increased, along with morphine and hydromorphone. • Increased mortality rates of amphetamines, zolpidem, and inhalants were of additional concern.