Preliminary Findings of an Epidemiologic Study of Cocaine-Related Deaths, Dade County, Florida, 1978-85

Abstract

Using data for an ongoing study of fatalities associated with cocaine use in Dade County Florida, USA, temporal trends are described and risk factors are examined for fatal overdose with case-control analysis for the years 1978-1985. While the number of deaths from accidental cocaine toxicity (ACTDs) rose consistently, median annual concentrations of cocaine in autopsy blood did not. When 125 ACTDs were compared with a control group, the following risk factors were identified: fresh injection sites, arteriosclerosis, and ventricular hypertrophy.

Key Words:

• Cocaine
• Fatalities
• Injection
• Artereosclerosis
• Ventricular hypertrophy