The methadone epidemic: Methadone-related deaths on the rise in Vermont

American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

Volumn 32, Issue 2, 2011, Pages 131-135

  Madden, Michelle E ^a   Shapiro, Steven L ^b,c  

^a FLETCHER ALLEN HEALTH CARE   (United States)

^b VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH   (United States)

^c UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT   (United States)

Author keywords

chronic pain; dependence; drug diversion; methadone maintenance therapy; pharmacokinetics

Indexed keywords

ALCOHOL; CENTRAL DEPRESSANT AGENT; DRUG; METHADONE; NARCOTIC AGENT; STREET DRUG;

ACCIDENT; ADDICTION; ADOLESCENT; ADULT; AGE DISTRIBUTION; AGED; ARTICLE; BLOOD; CRIME; FEMALE; FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY; HUMAN; INTOXICATION; MALE; MIDDLE AGED; MORTALITY; OPIATE SUBSTITUTION TREATMENT; PAIN; PRESCRIPTION; RETROSPECTIVE STUDY; SEX RATIO; STATISTICS; SUICIDE; UNITED STATES;

ACCIDENTS; ADOLESCENT; ADULT; AGE DISTRIBUTION; AGED; CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS; CRIME; DRUG PRESCRIPTIONS; ETHANOL; FEMALE; FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY; HUMANS; MALE; METHADONE; MIDDLE AGED; NARCOTICS; OPIATE SUBSTITUTION TREATMENT; OVERDOSE; PAIN; PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS; RETROSPECTIVE STUDIES; SEX DISTRIBUTION; STREET DRUGS; SUBSTANCE-RELATED DISORDERS; SUICIDE; VERMONT; YOUNG ADULT;

EID: 79957995824     PISSN: 01957910     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e3181e8af3d     Document Type: Article

References (36)

1. Fingerhut LA. Increases in methadone-related deaths: 1999-2004 [CDC National Center for Health Statistics]. 2006. Available at: http://www.cdc. gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/methadone1999-04/methadone 1999-04.htm. Accessed August 10, 2007.
2. Drummer OH. Recent trends in narcotic deaths. Ther Drug Monit. 2005;27:738-740. (Pubitemid 44391726)
3. Williamson PA, Foreman KJ, White JM, et al. Methadone-related overdose deaths in South Australia, 1984-1994. Med J Aust. 1997;166:302-305.
4. Courtwright DT, Joseph H, Des Jarlais DC. Addicts Who Survived: An Oral History of Narcotic Use in America, 1923-1965. Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press; 1989.
5. Andima H, Krug D, Bergner L, et al. A prevalence estimation model of narcotics addiction in New York City. Am J Epidemiol. 1973;98:56-62.
6. Joseph H, Stancliff S, Langrod J. Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT): a review of historical and clinical issues. Mt Sinai J Med. 2000;67:347-364.
7. Halpern M, Rho YM. Deaths from narcotism in New York City: incidence, circumstances, and postmortem findings. NY State J Med. 1966;66:2391-2408.
8. Fingerhut LA. Increases in methadone-related deaths: 1999-2004 [CDC National Center for Health Statistics]. 2006. Available at: http://www.cdc. gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/methadone1999-04/methadone 1999-04.htm. Accessed August 10, 2007.
9. Drummer OH. Recent trends in narcotic deaths. Ther Drug Monit. 2005;27:738-740. (Pubitemid 44391726)
10. Williamson PA, Foreman KJ, White JM, et al. Methadone-related overdose deaths in South Australia, 1984-1994. Med J Aust. 1997;166:302-305.
11. Courtwright DT, Joseph H, Des Jarlais DC. Addicts Who Survived: An Oral History of Narcotic Use in America, 1923-1965. Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press; 1989.
12. Andima H, Krug D, Bergner L, et al. A prevalence estimation model of narcotics addiction in New York City. Am J Epidemiol. 1973;98:56-62.
13. Joseph H, Stancliff S, Langrod J. Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT): a review of historical and clinical issues. Mt Sinai J Med. 2000;67:347-364.
14. Halpern M, Rho YM. Deaths from narcotism in New York City: incidence, circumstances, and postmortem findings. NY State J Med. 1966;66:2391-2408.
15. Isbell H, Vogel VH. The addiction liability of methadone (amidone, dolphine, 10, 820) and its use in the treatment of the morphine abstinence syndrome. Am J Psych. 1949;195:909-914.
16. Dole VP, Nyswander ME. A medical treatment for diacetylmorphine (heroin) addiction: a clinical trial with methadone hydrochloride. JAMA. 1965;193:80-84.
17. Dole VP, Nyswander ME, Kreek MJ. Narcotic blockade. Arch Intern Med. 1966;118:304-309.
18. Joseph H, Appel P. Historical perspectives and public health issues. In: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, US Department of Health and Human Services, eds. State Methadone Treatment Guidelines. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series #1. Washington, DC: DIANE Publishing; 1993:11-24.
19. Gearing FR, Schweitzer MD. An epidemiologic evaluation of long-term methadone maintenance treatment for heroin addiction. Am J Epidemiol. 1974;100:101-112.
20. Joseph H, Woods J. A point in time: the impact of expanded methadone maintenance treatment on citywide crime and public health in New York City 1971-1973. Belg Arch Public Health. 1995;53:215-231.
21. Godfrey C, Stewart D, Gossop M. Economic analysis of costs and consequences of the treatment of drug misuse: 2-year outcome data from the National Treatment Outcome Research Study (NTORS). Addiction. 2004;99:697-707. (Pubitemid 38747907)
22. Marsch LA. The efficacy of methadone maintenance interventions in reducing illicit opiate abuse, HIV risk behavior and criminality: a meta-analysis. Addiction. 1998;93:515-532. (Pubitemid 28188071)
23. Metrebian N, Shanahan W, Stimson GV. Feasibility of prescribing injectable heroin and methadone to opiate-dependent drug users: associated health gains and harm reduction. Med J Aust. 1998;168:596-600. (Pubitemid 28288616)
24. Coid J, Carvell A, Kittler Z, et al. Opiates, criminal behavior and methadone treatment [Home Office RDS]. 2000. Available at: http://www. homeoffice.gov. uk/rds/pdfs/crimebehav.pdf. Accessed August 10, 2007.
25. Ward J, Hall W, Mattick RP. Role of maintenance treatment in opioid dependence. Lancet. 1999;353:221-226. (Pubitemid 29088045)
26. Wilson P, Watson R, Ralston GE. Methadone maintenance in general practice: patients, workload, and outcomes. Br Med J. 1994;309:641-644. (Pubitemid 24281184)
27. Caplehorn JR, Dalton MS, Haldar F, et al. Methadone maintenance and addicts' risk of fatal heroin overdose. Subst Use Misuse. 1996;31:177-196. (Pubitemid 26094982)
28. Risser D, Hönigschnabl S, Stichenwirth M, et al. Mortality of opiate users in Vienna, Austria. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2001;64:251-256. (Pubitemid 32973868)
29. Corkery JM, Schifano F, Ghodse AH, et al. The effects of methadone and its role in fatalities. Hum Psychopharmacol Clin Exp. 2004;19:565-576. (Pubitemid 40028358)
30. Levine B, Wu SC, Dixon A, et al. Site dependence of post mortem blood methadone concentration. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1995;16:97-100.
31. Rogers WO, Hall MA, Brissie RM, et al. Detection of alprazolem in three cases of methadone/benzodiazepine overdose. J Forensic Sci. 1997;42:155-156. (Pubitemid 27023661)
32. Seymour A, Black M, Jay J, et al. The role of methadone in drug-related deaths in the west of Scotland. Addiction. 2003;98:995-1002. (Pubitemid 36808266)
33. FDA Public Health Advisory [FDA]. 2006. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/advisory/methadone.htm. Accessed September 2, 2007.
34. Roxane Laboratories, Inc. Methadone Hydrochloride Drug Information [FDA] [revised]. 2006. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2006/ 006134s0281bl.pdf. Accessed September 2, 2007.
35. Gagajewski A, Apple FS. Methadone-related deaths in Hennepin County, Minnesota: 1992-2002. J Forensic Sci. 2003;48:668-671. (Pubitemid 36538842)
36. Shah N, Lathrop SL, Landen MG. Unintentional methadone-related overdose death in New Mexico (USA) and implications for surveillance, 1998-2002. Addiction. 2004;100:176-188. (Pubitemid 40255375)