Typical features of opioid-intoxicated corpses in Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Opioid use makes the largest contribution to drug abuse mortality, while it is increasing in the world, especially in Iran. Objectives: The current study aimed at obtain the typical features of corpses under methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and opium intoxication in Isfahan, Iran. Patients and Methods: The current cross sectional study was conducted on 742 opioid overdose deaths from March 2008 to March 2014; data on drug overdose death in forensic center affiliated to Iranian ministry of health andmedical education were recorded by checklist. Results: Most of the opioid corpses were young (32.18±10 years), male (76.4), and single (58.2). They had low income, low education and were found at home; injection was the most common way of drug abuse (47.2). In toxicological findings, morphine was the most common drug and more than 40.7 of the corpses had the symptoms of chronic hepatitis. Pulmonary edema was the most common pathological finding. Conclusions: According to the current study findings, the low-educated and low-income young males were the most high-risk population fordrugoverdose death in Iran. Theessential role of educationandjob-creation policies to prevent addictionandopiumrelated death was clarified. © 2018, International Journal of High Risk Behaviors and Addiction.