Patterns of psychoactive substance detection from routine toxicology of suicides in Mobile, Alabama, between 1990 and 1998.
J Affect Disord
; 64(2-3): 167-74, 2001 May.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11313083
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Postmortem toxicology can be useful for reconstructing some clinically important events occurring before a suicide. Its utility may be improved by examining patterns of detected substances in a population over time.METHODS:
Toxicology was performed for 333 (96%) of the 346 suicides occurring in Mobile County, Alabama, between October 1990 and September 1998. Detected psychoactive substances were grouped in three categories alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis; abusable prescription medications; and non-abused psychotropic medications. The overlap between these three categories was assessed.RESULTS:
Psychoactive substances were detected in 227 (68%) of 333 suicides. Of the cases positive for any prescription psychoactive medication, 2/3 were positive for an abusable medication. An abusable substance was found in 56% of cases positive for non-abused psychotropic medication. Alcohol, cocaine and/or cannabis were found in 34% of cases with abusable prescription medications and in 33% with non-abused psychotropics.LIMITATIONS:
Clinicians must be aware of a number of methodological realities when interpreting routine postmortem toxicology results.CONCLUSIONS:
Routine surveillance of psychoactive substances among suicides can provide useful data for directing and monitoring strategies for suicide prevention in clinical practice.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Psicotrópicos
/
Suicidio
/
Toxicología
/
Detección de Abuso de Sustancias
/
Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Affect Disord
Año:
2001
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos