The first drug-related death associated with xylazine use in the UK and Europe.


Journal

Journal of forensic and legal medicine
ISSN: 1878-7487
Titre abrégé: J Forensic Leg Med
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101300022

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
Jul 2023
Historique:
received: 14 12 2022
revised: 12 05 2023
accepted: 21 05 2023
medline: 18 7 2023
pubmed: 27 5 2023
entrez: 26 5 2023
Statut: ppublish

Résumé

On November 8th The National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths (NPSAD) receives reports on drug-related deaths from coroners In England, Wales and Northern Ireland on a voluntary basis. The NPSAD was searched for cases with xylazine detections in cases received by December 31, 2022. One drug-related death associated with xylazine use was reported to NPSAD by December 31, 2022. The deceased was a 43-year-old male who was found dead at home with drug paraphernalia located at the property in May 2022. The post-mortem examination identified recent puncture wounds to the groin. Coronial documentation reports that the deceased had a history of illicit drug use. A number of drugs were detected by post-mortem toxicology and xylazine was implicated in death alongside heroin, fentanyl and cocaine. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first death associated with xylazine use reported in the UK, and even Europe, and indicates the entry of xylazine into the UK drug supply. This report highlights the importance of monitoring changes in illicit drug markets and the emergence of new drugs.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND AND AIMS OBJECTIVE
On November 8th
METHODS METHODS
The National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths (NPSAD) receives reports on drug-related deaths from coroners In England, Wales and Northern Ireland on a voluntary basis. The NPSAD was searched for cases with xylazine detections in cases received by December 31, 2022.
RESULTS RESULTS
One drug-related death associated with xylazine use was reported to NPSAD by December 31, 2022. The deceased was a 43-year-old male who was found dead at home with drug paraphernalia located at the property in May 2022. The post-mortem examination identified recent puncture wounds to the groin. Coronial documentation reports that the deceased had a history of illicit drug use. A number of drugs were detected by post-mortem toxicology and xylazine was implicated in death alongside heroin, fentanyl and cocaine.
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first death associated with xylazine use reported in the UK, and even Europe, and indicates the entry of xylazine into the UK drug supply. This report highlights the importance of monitoring changes in illicit drug markets and the emergence of new drugs.

Identifiants

pubmed: 37236142
pii: S1752-928X(23)00060-4
doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2023.102542
pii:
doi:

Substances chimiques

Xylazine 2KFG9TP5V8
Heroin 70D95007SX
Pharmaceutical Preparations 0
Fentanyl UF599785JZ
Illicit Drugs 0
Analgesics, Opioid 0

Types de publication

Case Reports

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Pagination

102542

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Auteurs

Kirsten L Rock (KL)

Centre for Pharmaceutical Medicine Research, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin Wilkins Building, Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NQ, UK. Electronic address: kirsten.rock@kcl.ac.uk.

Alexander J Lawson (AJ)

Department of Toxicology, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Bordesley Green East, Birmingham, B9 5SS, UK.

Joanne Duffy (J)

Department of Toxicology, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Bordesley Green East, Birmingham, B9 5SS, UK.

Alice Mellor (A)

Department of Toxicology, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Bordesley Green East, Birmingham, B9 5SS, UK.

Caroline S Copeland (CS)

Centre for Pharmaceutical Medicine Research, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin Wilkins Building, Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NQ, UK.

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Classifications MeSH