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Death of a female addict due to heroin and cocaine overdoses: a case report with multiparameter evaluation

Abstract  This study undertook a multiparameter evaluation of the death of a 21-year-old woman known to be an abuser of heroin and cocaine. The toxicological analysis of multiple postmortem specimens such as blood and hair was carried out using liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS-MS). The blood specimens of the deceased showed the presence of opium components such as morphine and its glucuronides together with cocaine and benzoylecgonine. The detected xenobiotic levels probably explained the cause of her death resulting from combined action of unintentional illicit drug overdose. By analysis of four 2-cm long hair segments, a heroin-cocaine addiction for at least 8 months antemortem was able to be documented; the presence of 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM), cocaine, and benzoylecgonine was demonstrated. The histopathological findings of lesions of the internal organs of the deceased were consistent with long heroin and cocaine abuse. The use of multiple parameters, such as blood and hair segments as matrices and drug metabolites such as 6-MAM, morphine, glucuronides, and benzoylecgonine as target compounds, gave a well-defined outline of her death. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Case ReportDOI 10.1007/s11419-008-0042-1Authors Małgorzata Kłys, Jagiellonian University Department of Toxicology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, Collegium Medicum 16 Grzegórzecka St. Kraków PolandSebastian Rojek, Jagiellonian University Department of Toxicology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, Collegium Medicum 16 Grzegórzecka St. Kraków PolandPiotr Kowalski, Jagiellonian University Department of Toxicology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, Collegium Medicum 16 Grzegórzecka St. Kraków PolandEwa Rzepecka-Woźniak, Jagiellonian University Department of Toxicology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, Collegium Medicum 16 Grzegórzecka St. Kraków Poland Journal Forensic ToxicologyOnline ISSN 1860-8973Print ISSN 1860-8965 (Source: Forensic Toxicology)

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