Opioid drug accidental deaths in the Newcastle area of New South Wales, 1970‐1987

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Abstract
Opioid drug accidental deaths were reviewed in coronial post‐mortem files of the Newcastle City Morgue, New South Wales, between 1970 and 1987. There were 23 accidental deaths directly caused by opioids, with 19 deaths (83%) involving the use of heroin/morphine. Deaths on weekends/public holidays were over‐represented compared with weekdays. In 14 cases (61%), the police notes suggested that help‐seeking had been inappropriately delayed by people in the presence of the subject. In almost half the cases where blood alcohol analyses were performed, the results were positive with a mean of 0.14 g alcohol per 100 ml. For a shorter time period 1985‐1987, opioid‐related suicides were also examined. Data on the five subjects involved in the suicides suggested they were a different target group for prevention. Opioids appear to be a very much smaller cause of death than alcohol and tobacco in the Newcastle Area. [Walsh RA. Opioid drug accidental deaths in the Newcastle area of New South Wales, 1970‐1987. Drug Alcohol Rev 1991; 10: 79‐83]

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