Kokain: Leistungsdroge der 90er Jahre? Morphologische und krimino-soziologische Aspekte

The drug fatalities handled by the Berlin forensic science institutes from 1992 to 1995 were analyzed with the help of post-mortem records and investigative files in order to ascertain the extent to which deaths showing positive proof of cocaine differ from previously known drug fatalities from a morphological and a sociological point of view. Additionally, in numerous cases it was possible to have recourse to medical records and interviews with relatives. In analysing individual cases it could be established that only a small proportion of those who had died from drug-related causes and who were found with positive proof of cocaine had been affected by pure cocaine intoxication. In most cases consumpton of cocaine was irregular. Predominantly, cases of combined intoxication involving opiate-containing substances were found. Cocaine has lost some of its exclusivity and met with wider acceptance among drug addicts of the opiate-type. Morphologically speaking, findings among drug addicts of the cocaine-type are becoming increasingly less specific; in particular, infectious diseases (e.g. hepatitis) are being observed more rarely. Our results point to the fact that the operating methods of appropriate treatment institutions must be modified with respect to their work with addicts using substitutes.