Prevalence of recent cocaine use among motor vehicle fatalities in New York City

Article Abstract:

The prevalence of recent cocaine and alcohol use in individuals who died in motor vehicle accidents from 1984 through 1987 in New York City was examined. Data from the New York City Health Department were used, along with records from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New York which included autopsy and toxicological findings. Researchers hypothesized that there was a significant relationship between cocaine use and motor vehicle fatalities which could be determined through cocaine metabolite analysis at autopsy. In addition, they questioned whether the 34 percent increase in motor vehicle fatalities from 1986 through 1987 reflected increased cocaine use resulting from the availability of "crack" (an inexpensive and highly potent form of cocaine). The data obtained from 1984 through 1985 was compared with data recorded from 1986 through 1987. Three general conclusions were drawn after these data were analyzed: in 56 percent of the motor vehicle fatalities either cocaine metabolites or alcohol were detected at autopsy, more than one out of four drivers between the ages of 16 and 45 years old had used cocaine within 48 hours of death, and both alcohol and cocaine metabolites were found at autopsy in 10 percent of all fatalities. When the two-year periods were compared, no significant differences were found that may have reflected the increased use of crack. This last finding did not confirm the second part of the researchers' hypothesis. It was suggested that the pattern of crack usage may not follow previously observed pattern of cocaine use and that the driving population may not be affected. It was concluded that there is a strong need for additional studies to clarify the relationship between cocaine use and motor vehicle fatalities and to determine if screening methods should be implemented to reduce fatality rates.

Research, Case studies, Mortality, Physiological aspects, Statistics, Accidents, New York, Motor vehicle drivers, Alcohol, Ethanol, Drug abuse, Traffic accidents, Driving while intoxicated, Drinking and traffic accidents, New York (City), Drugs and automobile drivers

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Cocaine use, risk taking, and fatal Russian roulette

Article Abstract:

Individuals who use cocaine on a regular basis may engage in risky behavior that could threaten their lives. Toxicology reports on 14 individuals who died after playing Russian roulette from 1984 through 1987 were compared to those of 54 individuals who committed suicide with a handgun during the same period. The toxicological analysis included testing urine samples for the presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, and for other drugs, including alcohol. Eighty percent of the men who died during Russian roulette were black or Hispanic, and most of the deaths were witnessed by other men. Cocaine was associated with 64% of the Russian roulette deaths, but only 35% of the suicides. None of the men who died during Russian roulette had a history of suicide attempts. Cocaine use may lead to extreme risk-taking behavior, and this could account for much of the violence associated with cocaine use.

Cocaine abuse, Risk-taking (Psychology), Risk taking

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Fatal injuries after cocaine use as a leading cause of death among young adults in New York City

Article Abstract:

Mortal injury following cocaine use may be one of the five most common causes of death in people 15 to 44 years old in New York City. Researchers tested the blood or urine of 12,960 people who had died from fatal injuries in New York City, between 1990 and 1992 for cocaine or its metabolite, benzoylecgonine. Approximately 27% of these people had used cocaine within 3 days of their death, as indicated by benzoylecgonine in their blood or urine. Approximately 18% had used cocaine just before death, as indicated by free cocaine in their blood. Fatal injury following cocaine use was the cause of death in 14% of people aged 15 to 24, and 10% of people aged 25 to 44. Approximately 65% of deaths from fatal injury after cocaine use were the result of violence rather than the effect of cocaine on the body. Death from injuries following cocaine use was particularly high among young blacks and Hispanics.

Youth, Death

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