Drug Related Deaths Summary 2011 and 2012
2011 (update)
There had been 7 deaths, of which 4 male and 3 female.
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20 years to 46 years of age, therefore average age 33 years.
3 individuals were in drug treatment at the time of death, 2 males and 1 female.
All 3 were on methadone treatment.
The deceased place of death- home 3, family/friends 3 and hospital 1
6 were pronounced dead at the scene and 1 hospital.
Medical Causes of Death/Verdict:No.
1.
Medical Cause of Death
1a Gastro-intestinal haemorrhage, b
Oesophageal varices and cirrhosis,
Hep C virus infection and chronic
excess alcohol intake, 2.
Intravenous drug use (contributing
but not directly causing death)
Coroner Verdict
Misadventure*
2.
1(a) Drug (Morphine, tramadol,
Methadone) toxicity
2 Hep C & fatty liver
Misadventure*
3.
1a Cocaine, methadone and alcohol
toxicity
2 Diazepam
Open Verdict
4.
I(a) Cocaine Toxicity
Pending
5.
1a subarachnoid and cerebral
haemorrhage,
2. Dilated cardiomyopathy
intravenous drug usage and chronic
excess alcohol intake.
Narrative *
Died from spontaneous cerebral bleeds
which developed in a background of
longstanding drug and alcohol abuse thus
rendering him more susceptible of a fatal
bleed.
6.
The effects of a combination of
ethanol and methadone
Narrative
Died at her home in the early hours of
12th June 2011 after drinking a substantial
quantity of alcohol during the afternoon
and evening of 11th June and ingesting
methadone during the evening of the
same day. There is insufficient evidence
of the precise circumstances in which the
methadone was ingested but it is more
likely than not that consumption of the
methadone was a voluntary act. The
danger of consumption of methadone by
a naïve user was known to those present
at the time of consumption but no action
was taken by them to seek help or advice
at any time after consumption, and prior
to the development of a terminal
condition.
7.
1a Methadone toxicity and
amphetamine misuse / 11
Ischaemic heart disease and
bronchopneumonia
Misadventure
*The deceased were in drug treatment at time of death and had chronic health
conditions including Hep C and all three were reported as having high levels of
alcohol use.
Other key points:
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One of the deceased (No. 7) was reported to have been heard snoring prior to
death.
Alcohol use appeared in all cases apart from No. 7.
Poly substance use in all cases.
Two deaths included consuming non- prescribed methadone.
2012
There had been 5 deaths, of which all were male.
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21 years to 41 years of age, therefore average age 31 years.
2 individuals were in drug treatment at the time of death. Both on methadone.
The deceased place of death- home 3, family/friends 1 and hospital 1
4 were pronounced dead at the scene and 1 hospital.
Medical Causes of Death/Verdict:No.
1.
Medical Cause of Death
1a Cardiac arrhythmia, b Paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA)
toxicity
Coroner Verdict
Misadventure
2.
1a Mixed drug (ethanol. Methadone,
diazepam, morphine) toxicity
Accidental Death*
3.
1a Mixed drug toxicity
2 Alcoholic liver disease.
Misadventure*
4.
5.
1a Bronchopneumonia,
b Ischaemic brain injury
c drug toxicity
2 Frontal lobe brain injury
Narrative
1a Smoke inhalation
2 Alcohol intoxication and cannabis
use
Accidental death
Deceased sustained an irreversible
ischaemic brain injury due to an acute
drug induced hypotensive episode. Brain
injury sustained in a childhood road traffic
accident contributed insofar as effecting
his judgement and impulsivity. Died in
Bsly Hosp on 8/6/2012.
*The deceased were in drug treatment at time of death and had chronic health
conditions including Hep C for No. 2, both were reported as having high levels of
alcohol use.
Other key points:
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One of the deceased (No. 4) was reported to have been heard snoring prior to
death.
One had history of multiple overdose (No. 4) and found after overdose then taken
to hospital prior to death.
One (No. 2) died as injecting heroin in groin.
No. 1 had been ‘bombing’ previous night several times. (Bombing – crushing
tablets and placing powder in cigarette paper and swallowing)
Alcohol use appeared in all cases.
Poly substance use in all cases.
Debbie Stovin
Adult Drug Treatment System Manager
Rotherham Public Health
June 2013