Journal Published Online: 01 April 1985
Volume 30, Issue 2

An Epidemic of Cocaine Associated Deaths in Utah

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

This article describes 15 cocaine associated deaths in Utah in a 3 ½-month period in early 1984, compared to 6 cocaine associated deaths for all of 1983. Brief case histories of the 15 cases are presented along with data on age, sex, county of death, cause of death, association of the cocaine with the death, cocaine analytical methodology, and a summary of cocaine concentrations in blood and urine. In four of the cases, cocaine by injection was the cause of death. whereas the other cases had cocaine or metabolite detected incidentally. The epidemiology of a single, well-defined cocaine source is described and related to this transient, remarkable increase in cocaine associated deaths.

Author Information

Sander, R
Office of the Medical Examiner, Salt Lake City, UT
Ryser, MA
Office of the Medical Examiner, Salt Lake City, UT
Lamoreaux, TC
Medical Examiner—Corrections Section. Department of Health, State Health Laboratory, Salt Lake City, UT
Raleigh, K
Medical Examiner—Corrections Section. Department of Health, State Health Laboratory, Salt Lake City, UT
Pages: 7
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS11828J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11828J