Analysis of Methadone-Related Poisoning Cases
10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2024.340303
- VernacularTitle:美沙酮相关中毒案例分析
- Author:
Ze-Qi LI
1
;
Lei XING
;
Hui-Ge ZHANG
;
Li-Rou HE
;
Jia-Yi ZHANG
;
Jia-Qi WANG
;
Shi-Hao LIU
;
Wei-Hong YANG
Author Information
1. 郑州大学第一临床医学院临床医学系,河南 郑州 450001
- Keywords:
forensic pathology;
forensic toxicology;
methadone;
poisoning;
analysis of death cause;
cases analysis
- From:
Journal of Forensic Medicine
2025;41(2):160-167
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To analyze the characteristics of methadone-related poisoning cases and provide a reference for forensic identification.Methods A total of 71 cases of methadone-related poisoning re-ported from 1998 to 2023 in China and 26 cases of methadone-related deaths reported from 2013 to 2018 in Italy were retrieved from databases including PubMed,Wanfang and CNKI.The general infor-mation,forensic pathological and toxicological characteristics were analyzed.Results Among the 71 methadone-related poisoning cases in China,there were 54 cases(76.06%)of poisoning without death and 17 cases(23.94%)of death from poisoning.There were 54 male cases(76.06%),and 51 cases(71.83%)aged 19 to 39 years old.There were 35 cases(49.30%)of poisoning caused by methadone alone,and 32 cases(45.07%)were poisoning caused by methadone combined with other substances or drugs including heroin and benzodiazepines.Most of the poisoned showed coma,respiratory depres-sion and miosis.Signs of asphyxia were often found by autopsy.The mass concentration of methadone detected in the blood of 6 deceased ranged from 0.112 to 3.000 mg/L.Among the 26 methadone-related deaths in Italy,22 cases were male(84.62%).There were 6 cases(23.08%)caused by methadone alone,and 20 cases(76.92%)died from methadone combined with other substances or drugs.The mass concentration of methadone in blood ranged from 0.181 to 4.059 mg/L.Conclusion The propor-tions of poisoning cases caused by methadone alone and methadone combined with other substances or drugs are comparable in China.The majority of deceased caused by methadone poisoning shows typi-cal triad of coma,respiratory depression and miosis,which helps forensic experts determine the cause of death related to methadone.Additionally,it is necessary to increase the routine testing of the con-centration of methadone and its combined substances or drugs in deceased,and collect data for the in-terpretation of the results of related cases.
