Fatal poisoning in drug addicts in the Nordic countries in 2017

This study is the seventh report on fatal poisonings among drug addicts in the Nordic countries. In this report, we analyse data from the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Data on gender, number of deaths, places of deaths, age, main intoxicants and substances detected in blood were recorded to obtain national and comparable Nordic data, and to allow comparison with earlier studies conducted in 1984, 1991, 1997, 2002, 2007 and 2012. The death rate (number of deaths per 100,000 inhabitants) was highest in Iceland (6.58) followed closely by Sweden (6.46) and then lowest in Denmark (4.29). The death rate increased in Finland (5.84), Iceland and Sweden and decreased in Denmark compared to earlier studies. The death rate in Norway, which has decreased since 2002, has stabilised around 5.7 as of 2017. Women accounted for 7-23% of the fatal poisonings. The percentage was lowest in Iceland and highest in Finland and Norway. The age range was 14-70 years. The median age (41 years) was highest in Denmark and Norway. The other countries had a median age between 33 and 35 years. Opioids were the main cause of death. Methadone remained the main intoxicant in Denmark, while heroin/morphine was still the main intoxicant in Norway, as was buprenorphine in Finland. However, the picture has changed in Sweden compared to 2012, where heroin/morphine caused most deaths in 2017. Sweden also experienced the highest number of deaths from fentanyl analogues (67 deaths) and buprenorphine (61 deaths). Deaths from fentanyl analogues also occurred in Denmark, Finland and Norway, but to a smaller extent. Over the years, the proportion of opioid deaths has decreased in all countries except Sweden, which has experienced an increase. This decline has been replaced by deaths from CNS stimulants like cocaine, amphetamine and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Cocaine deaths have occurred in all countries but most frequently in Denmark. MDMA deaths have increased in all countries but mostly in Finland. Poly-drug use was widespread, as seen in the earlier studies. The median number of detected drugs per case varied from 4-6. Heroin/morphine, methadone, buprenorphine, cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and benzodiazepines were frequently detected. Pregabalin and gabapentin were detected in all countries, especially pregabalin, which was detected in 42% of the Finnish cases. New psychoactive substances (NPS) occurred in all countries except Iceland. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Ethylene glycol poisoning may be associated with elevated post-mortem vitreous glucose level

Abstract Ethylene glycol (EG) is a toxic chemical that is sometimes used as ethanol substitute. Besides the desired intoxicating effects, the intake of EG may often lead to death unless timely treatment measures are provided by medical professionals. We examined 17 fatal EG poisonings between 2016 and March 2022 in Finland in terms of forensic toxicology and biochemistry results and demographic information. Most of the deceased were male and the median (range) age was 47 (20–77) years. Of the cases, 6 were suicides, 5 accidents and in 7 cases the intent remained undetermined. In all cases, vitreous humour (VH) glucose was above the limit of quantitation 0.35 mmol/L (mean: 5.2 mmol/L; range 0.52–19.5 mmol/L). Other markers of the glycaemic balance were within the normal range in all except one case. As EG is not routinely screened for in most laboratories but only analysed in cases where the intake of EG is suspected, some fatal EG poisonings may remain unrecognised in post-mortem (PM) investigations. Although various conditions may induce hyperglycaemia, it is worthwhile keeping in mind that elevated PM VH glucose levels that cannot be otherwise explained may suggest intake of ethanol substitutes