Journal ArticleDOI
Rates, characteristics and circumstances of methamphetamine-related death in Australia: a national 7-year study.
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TLDR
While toxicity was the most frequent cause, natural disease, suicide and accident comprised more than half of deaths, and methamphetamine death rates doubled in Australia from 2009 to 2015.Abstract:
Aims
To (1) assess trends in the number and mortality rates of methamphetamine-related death in Australia, 2009–15; (2) assess the characteristics and the cause, manner and circumstances of death; and (3) assess the blood methamphetamine concentrations and the presence of other drugs in methamphetamine-related death.
Design
Analysis of cases of methamphetamine-related death retrieved from the National Coronial Information System (NCIS).
Setting
Australia.
Cases
All cases in which methamphetamine was coded in the NCIS database as a mechanism contributing to death (n = 1649).
Measurements
Information was collected on cause and manner of death, demographics, location, circumstances of death and toxicology.
Findings
The mean age of cases was 36.9 years, and 78.4% were male. The crude mortality rate was 1.03 per 100 000. The rate increased significantly over time (P < 0.001), and at 2015 the mortality rate was 1.8 [confidence interval (CI) = 1.2–2.4] times that of 2009. Deaths were due to accidental drug toxicity (43.2%), natural disease (22.3%), suicide (18.2%), other accident (14.9%) and homicide (1.5%). In 40.8% of cases, death occurred outside the major capital cities. The median blood methamphetamine concentration was 0.17 mg/l, and cases in which only methamphetamine was detected had higher concentrations than other cases (0.30 versus 0.15 mg/l, P < 0.001). The median blood methamphetamine concentration varied within a narrow range (0.15–0.20 mg/l) across manner of death. In the majority (82.8%) of cases, substances other than methamphetamine were detected, most frequently opioids (43.1%) and hypnosedatives (38.0%).
Conclusions
Methamphetamine death rates doubled in Australia from 2009 to 2015. While toxicity was the most frequent cause, natural disease, suicide and accident comprised more than half of deaths.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
Longitudinal changes in co-involved drugs, comorbidities, and demographics of methamphetamine-related deaths in Los Angeles County.
Chelsea L. Shover,Joseph Friedman,Ruby Romero,Russell G. Buhr,Brian Chu,Amber B. Tang,Jesus A. Medina,Lauren E. Wisk,Jonathan Lucas,David Goodman-Meza +9 more
TL;DR: The authors conducted a population-based observational study of all medical examiner cases in Los Angeles County from January 2012 through June 2021 in which methamphetamine was listed as a cause of or contributing factor to death.
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The effects of methamphetamine on electrocardiographic parameters in male patients
TL;DR: A significant deterioration in QT dispersion and Tp-e/QTc ratio is found in the MUD group of methamphetamine use disorder and care should be taken in terms of arrhythmic events during follow-up in this patient group.
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Longitudinal changes in co-involved drugs, comorbidities, and demographics of methamphetamine-related deaths in Los Angeles County
TL;DR: This article conducted a population-based observational study of all medical examiner cases in Los Angeles County from January 2012 through June 2021 in which methamphetamine was listed as a cause of or contributing factor to death (n = 6125).
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Associations between prescription stimulant use as prescribed, nonmedical use, and illicit stimulant use among adults evaluated for substance use treatment, 2017-2021
TL;DR: In this article , the authors explored problem severity across seven biopsychosocial domains (e.g., drug, psychiatric, family) by past 30-day prescription stimulant use/nonmedical use (NMU) and illicit stimulant using.
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Changing trends and characteristics of one punch deaths in Australia (2012-2018)
Jennifer L. Schumann,Reena Sarkar,M. Grbic,Olaf H. Drummer,Dimitri Gerostamoulos,Linda Iles,Richard Bassed +6 more
TL;DR: One-punch assaults are characterized by a single severe blow to the head causing the victim to lose consciousness, resulting in a secondary impact between the head and surrounding environment as mentioned in this paper .
References
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Louisa Degenhardt,Wayne Hall +1 more
TL;DR: The regional and global distribution of use and estimated health burden from illicit drugs is outlined, and the health-related harms of cannabis use differ from those of amphetamine, cocaine, and opioid use, in that cannabis contributes little to mortality.
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Global Burden of Disease Attributable to Illicit Drug Use and Dependence: Findings From the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010
Louisa Degenhardt,Louisa Degenhardt,Harvey Whiteford,Harvey Whiteford,Alize J. Ferrari,Alize J. Ferrari,Amanda J Baxter,Amanda J Baxter,Fiona J Charlson,Fiona J Charlson,Wayne Hall,Greg Freedman,Roy Burstein,Nicole E. Johns,Rebecca E. Engell,Abraham D. Flaxman,Christopher J L Murray,Theo Vos +17 more
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Major physical and psychological harms of methamphetamine use
TL;DR: The current public image of methamphetamine does not portray adequately the extensive, and in many cases insidious, harms caused.