OBJECTIVES: To perform retrospective analysis on 20 dead cases related to heroin abuse, and to provide references for the forensic assessment of correlative cases. METHODS: Among 20 dead cases related to heroin abuse, general situation, using method of drug, cause of death and result of forensic examination were analyzed by statistical analysis for summarizing the cause of death and pathologic changes. RESULTS: The dead were mostly young adults, with more male than female. The results of histopathological examinations showed non-specific pathological changes. There were four leading causes of death, including acute poisoning of heroin abuse or leakage （13 cases, 65%）, concurrent diseases caused by heroin abuse （3 cases, 15%）, inspiratory asphyxia caused by taking heroin （2 cases, 10%）, and heroin withdrawal syndrome （2 cases, 10%）. CONCLUSIONS The forensic identification on dead related to heroin abuse must base on the comprehensive autopsy, and combine with the qualitative and quantitative analysis of heroin and its metabolites in death and the case information, as well as the scene investigation.
Adult ; Autopsy ; Cause of Death ; Drug Overdose/diagnosis* ; Female ; Forensic Pathology ; Forensic Toxicology ; Heroin/poisoning* ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To provide references for forensic expertise by investigating the kinds of toxicant, routes of exposure and manners of poisoning deaths, etc. METHODS: Six hundred and seven autopsy cases of poisoning deaths from 1957 to 2008 in Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College (Tongji Forensic Science Identification Center of Hubei), were comparatively reviewed. RESULTS: In 218 cases from 1999 to 2008, more than 50% of decedents were male in the ages of 30-49. The toxicants are usually taken orally and the most common manner of death was accidental. The common substances involved in poisoning death were rodenticide, poisoning gas and insecticide. Compared to the data of 1983-1998 and 1957-1982, the common toxic agents had changed significantly. The number of cases involving insecticide and cyanide poisoning decreased in recent years, and the number of cases of rodenticide, poisoning gas, alcohols poisoning displayed an increase tendency, especially for drugs abuse. CONCLUSION Poisoning deaths of pesticides remain a major public health problem for a long time and the awareness of prevention need to be raised, especially for the prevention of deaths from multiple poisons.
Accidents/statistics & numerical data* ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Alcoholic Intoxication/epidemiology* ; Anesthetics/poisoning* ; Autopsy ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning/epidemiology* ; Cause of Death ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Heroin/poisoning* ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives/poisoning* ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pesticides/poisoning* ; Poisoning/etiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Rodenticides/poisoning* ; Sex Distribution ; Suicide/statistics & numerical data* ; Young Adult

Canavan Disease ; chemically induced ; complications ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; etiology ; Heroin ; poisoning ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

At the emergency Department of Thanh Nhan Hospital from Jan 1998 to Nov 1999, 103 cases (95.15% male and 86.41% aged 16-30) of acute intoxication of drug were studied, 7.67% subjects originated from Ha Noi and 22.33% from different provinces. The rate of urban origin accounts for 85.44%, rural 14.56%. In the year 1999, acute drug intoxicated subjects who admitted to this hospital were 1.71 times higher versus the year 1998, and the most common number concentrated on the months 8, 7, 3, 2, 11, 10. Labourers without permanent jobs occupy 8.58%, student 10.68% of the total subject. 94.18% of case had an addictive duration above 1 year, 85.44% using venous injectable opium and its decant, 14.56% using inhaled heroin
Narcotics ; Poisoning ; Heroin