1099-1077/asset/HUP_left.gif?v=1&s=2493641752fee999a19882ec7fff9f61fd84a768)
Research Article
An index of fatal toxicity for drugs of misuse
Article first published online: 26 JAN 2010
DOI: 10.1002/hup.1090
Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Issue
1099-1077/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=c25bd67d4f4525a91c8324a0c8e9b6fcf0afb546 "Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental")
Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental
Volume 25, Issue 2, pages 162–166, March 2010
Additional Information
How to Cite
King, L. A. and Corkery, J. M. (2010), An index of fatal toxicity for drugs of misuse. Hum. Psychopharmacol. Clin. Exp., 25: 162–166. doi: 10.1002/hup.1090
Publication History
- Issue published online: 1 MAR 2010
- Article first published online: 26 JAN 2010
- Manuscript Accepted: 18 NOV 2009
- Manuscript Received: 7 SEP 2009
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- lethality;
- mortality statistics;
- drug users;
- law enforcement seizures;
- market size;
- illicit substances
Abstract
Objective
To determine the lethal toxicity of five commonly-used illicit substances by relating the number of associated deaths to their availability.
Methods
An index of toxicity was calculated for each of five drugs [heroin, cocaine/crack, ecstasy (MDMA), amphetamine and cannabis] as the ratio of the number of deaths associated with that substance to its availability in the period 2003–2007. Three separate proxy measures of availability were used (number of users as determined by household surveys, number of seizures by law enforcement agencies and estimates of the market size). All data are related to England and Wales only.
Results
There was a broad correlation between all three denominators of availability. Not unexpectedly, heroin and cannabis showed, respectively, the highest and lowest toxicities. The index of fatal toxicity of MDMA was close to that of amphetamine and cocaine/crack. There was a rank correlation between this index and other measures of lethal toxicity based on safety ratios.
Conclusions
These results are contrary to widely-held public views of the relative fatal toxicity of MDMA. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.