Intravenous methadone application as a serious risk factor for an overdose death: methadone-related fatalities in Hamburg from 2007 to 2012

摘要: Methadone plays an increasing role in drug-related deaths Hamburg. To find out whether intravenous application of methadone a relevant methadone-related deaths, body fluids all methadone-positive cases (n = 130) and three buprenorphine-positive where urine sample was available (n = 58 + 3) were investigated for disaccharides (sucrose lactose as markers abuse). Sixty-four percent the samples showed positive results (22 times sucrose alone, range 2 to >1,000 mg/L; 6 sucrose; 9 22 382 mg/L). The buprenorphine urine. In blood, it not possible detect any disaccharides. Of 116 fatal intoxications, 49 % under opiate maintenance treatment (OMT) at point death (A-OMT), 30 % never OMT (N-OMT) 21 % formerly OMT, but (F-OMT). deceased group, 12 % (n = 7) died within first 2 weeks treatment, six them week. Overall, abuse substituted patients drug consumers therapy. Thus, is necessary that therapists keep statutory regulations give take-home doses only after least 6 months successful therapy when there no suspicion abuse.