Journal Published Online: 01 January 2000
Volume 45, Issue 1

Heroin Body Packing: Three Fatal Cases of Intestinal Perforation

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

Death from heroin body packing has been well described in the forensic literature. Most fatalities are due to drug leakage and consequent acute heroin toxicity. Recently, drug traffickers have become more sophisticated in their packaging, and the risk of rupture of drug packets is more remote. Though intestinal obstruction is a recognized risk of body packing, rarely has this resulted in death. We describe four cases of heroin body packing presenting to the Regional Medical Examiner Office in New Jersey. Death in three of these cases was due to intestinal obstruction, with resultant intestinal rupture and peritonitis. Toxicologic evaluation in these three cases was negative for opiates or other drugs of abuse. In one case, death was due to acute heroin toxicity, validated by toxicologic analysis. We briefly discuss the differing drug packaging found in these four cases and the ramifications of packaging as it relates to intestinal obstruction.

Author Information

Hutchins, KD
Regional Medical Examiner Office, Edwin H. Albano Institute of Forensic Sciences, Newark, NJ
Pierre-Louis, PJB
Regional Medical Examiner Office, Edwin H. Albano Institute of Forensic Sciences, Newark, NJ
Zaretski, L
Regional Medical Examiner Office, Edwin H. Albano Institute of Forensic Sciences, Newark, NJ
Williams, AW
Regional Medical Examiner Office, Edwin H. Albano Institute of Forensic Sciences, Newark, NJ
Lin, RL
State Toxicology Laboratory, Edwin H. Albano Institute of Forensic Sciences, Newark, NJ
Natarajan, GA
Regional Medical Examiner Office, Edwin H. Albano Institute of Forensic Sciences, Newark, NJ
Pages: 6
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS14639J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14639J