Rates, characteristics and circumstances of methamphetamine‐related death in Australia: a national 7‐year study. (11th July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Darke, Shane; Kaye, Sharlene; Duflou, Johan
• Is Part Of: Addiction. Volume 112:Number 12(2017)
• Page Start: 2191
• Page End: 2201
• Publication Date: 2017-07-11
• Subjects: Circumstances -- disease -- epidemiology -- methamphetamine -- mortality -- toxicity; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Drug addiction -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1111/add.13897
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0965-2140

Abstract

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.