The incidence of drug abuse in unnatural deaths in Northern Thailand

Objective: Study the incidence of drug abuse in persons with unnatural deaths such as traffic accidents, homicide with gunshot wounds, etc. Material and Method: One hundred and fifty three cases with a mean age of 34 years (range 10 to 76) were studied. The decedents were mostly male (92%), with a v...

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Main Authors: Narongchai P., Narongchai S., Thampituk S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2014
Online Access:http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-33846991598&partnerID=40&md5=b10c7002b8abf566b63c8ed7727531be
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17621744
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/2283
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Institution: Chiang Mai University
Language: English
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spelling th-cmuir.6653943832-22832014-08-30T02:00:40Z The incidence of drug abuse in unnatural deaths in Northern Thailand Narongchai P. Narongchai S. Thampituk S. Objective: Study the incidence of drug abuse in persons with unnatural deaths such as traffic accidents, homicide with gunshot wounds, etc. Material and Method: One hundred and fifty three cases with a mean age of 34 years (range 10 to 76) were studied. The decedents were mostly male (92%), with a variety of occupations including laborers (76.9%), traders (15.4%), and student(7.7%). The causes of death were mainly traffic injuries (33%), gunshot wounds (26%) and others (stab wound, poisoning, asphyxia etc 41%). The manner of death was accidents in 40% and homicides in 28%. Results: Nine percent were positive for methamphetamine or amphetamine derivatives. Tests for Heroin, 6-MAM, morphine, or cocaine were also performed but not detected. The drug positive cases were mostly males (85%) with the most common age range of 21-30 years (35.4%) and 61% with only primary education. Homicide by gunshot wounds was the most common cause of death at 69.2%, followed by hanging (15.4%), electrocution (7.7%), and poisoning (7.7%). The concentration of methamphetamine in urine was between 501 - 61,147 ng/ml, which cannot be correlated with intoxication. There were no deaths from overdose. Three Benzodiazepine, one toluene, and one meperidine cases were also found in cases of methamphetamine abuse. Alcohol was found mostly in the persons with unnatural deaths (53.6%) from traffic accidents. Conclusion: This information helps us understand the marketing strategies, and the trading routes. All data will be used for planning to eradicate these drugs from Thailand in line with government strategies. 2014-08-30T02:00:40Z 2014-08-30T02:00:40Z 2007 Article 01252208 17621744 JMTHB http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-33846991598&partnerID=40&md5=b10c7002b8abf566b63c8ed7727531be http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17621744 http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/2283 English
institution Chiang Mai University
building Chiang Mai University Library
country Thailand
collection CMU Intellectual Repository
language English
description Objective: Study the incidence of drug abuse in persons with unnatural deaths such as traffic accidents, homicide with gunshot wounds, etc. Material and Method: One hundred and fifty three cases with a mean age of 34 years (range 10 to 76) were studied. The decedents were mostly male (92%), with a variety of occupations including laborers (76.9%), traders (15.4%), and student(7.7%). The causes of death were mainly traffic injuries (33%), gunshot wounds (26%) and others (stab wound, poisoning, asphyxia etc 41%). The manner of death was accidents in 40% and homicides in 28%. Results: Nine percent were positive for methamphetamine or amphetamine derivatives. Tests for Heroin, 6-MAM, morphine, or cocaine were also performed but not detected. The drug positive cases were mostly males (85%) with the most common age range of 21-30 years (35.4%) and 61% with only primary education. Homicide by gunshot wounds was the most common cause of death at 69.2%, followed by hanging (15.4%), electrocution (7.7%), and poisoning (7.7%). The concentration of methamphetamine in urine was between 501 - 61,147 ng/ml, which cannot be correlated with intoxication. There were no deaths from overdose. Three Benzodiazepine, one toluene, and one meperidine cases were also found in cases of methamphetamine abuse. Alcohol was found mostly in the persons with unnatural deaths (53.6%) from traffic accidents. Conclusion: This information helps us understand the marketing strategies, and the trading routes. All data will be used for planning to eradicate these drugs from Thailand in line with government strategies.
format Article
author Narongchai P.
Narongchai S.
Thampituk S.
spellingShingle Narongchai P.
Narongchai S.
Thampituk S.
The incidence of drug abuse in unnatural deaths in Northern Thailand
author_facet Narongchai P.
Narongchai S.
Thampituk S.
author_sort Narongchai P.
title The incidence of drug abuse in unnatural deaths in Northern Thailand
title_short The incidence of drug abuse in unnatural deaths in Northern Thailand
title_full The incidence of drug abuse in unnatural deaths in Northern Thailand
title_fullStr The incidence of drug abuse in unnatural deaths in Northern Thailand
title_full_unstemmed The incidence of drug abuse in unnatural deaths in Northern Thailand
title_sort incidence of drug abuse in unnatural deaths in northern thailand
publishDate 2014
url http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-33846991598&partnerID=40&md5=b10c7002b8abf566b63c8ed7727531be
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17621744
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/2283
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