Methadone related deaths – epidemiological, pathohistological and toxicological traits in 10-year retrospective study in Vojvodina, Serbia

Abstract (English)

The aim of the study was to evaluate methadone related deaths (MRDs) in a 10-
year period (2002-2011) in the region of Vojvodina, Serbia according to epidemiological
parameters, pathohistological findings in heart, lung and liver and toxicological
screening of blood, urine and bile. The number of MRDs has been increased in recent
years in our territory. The majority of victims were man, aged from 20 to 38. Pathohistologically, the signs of recent focal myocardial damage were present in hart of
victims with drug abuse history shorter than 2 years. Both signs of recent and chronic
focal myocardial damage were developed among victims with longer drug abuse history
(2-5 years). According to the toxicological findings, in postmortem blood samples of the
majority of victims (54.84%), methadone was detected in combination with diazepam.
Mean detected concentrations of methadone and diazepam in blood were in therapeutic
range.