Heroin overdose: Opioid overdose

Darke, Shane

doi:10.1111/add.13516

Cited by 37Opioid Use Disorder TreatmentSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesPoisoning and overdose treatments

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 35 of the 35 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Heroin overdose: Opioid overdose

Darke, Shane·2016·Addiction

DOI 10.1111/add.13516

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This narrative review aims to provide a brief history of the development of the heroin overdose field by discussing a selection of major 'classics' from the latter part of the 20th century. METHODS: Papers considered landmarks were selected from 1972, 1977, 1983, 1984 and 1999. RESULTS: Findings of earlier works suggest much of what later research was to demonstrate. These include arguing that overdoses occurred primarily among tolerant older users, that most 'overdose' deaths involved low morphine concentrations, that most overdoses involve polypharmacy, that drug purity has only a moderate influence on overdose rates and that instant death following heroin administration is rare. CONCLUSIONS: Landmark studies of heroin overdose from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s laid the foundations for subsequent overdose research, mainly by identifying the major demographic characteristics of overdose cases, risk factors, survival times and behaviours at overdose events.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1111/add.13516

Cites

35 of 35 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

This paper’s full text isn’t openly available, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Polydrug use is common in drug overdose situations.
“While polydrug use is common in drug overdose situations (e.g. 55), and alcohol is one of the substances often present with other illicit substances, alcohol is rarely recorded as the cause of death, even when it has been specified and reported as the most toxic component by the medico‐legal pathologist, and based on this should have been coded as the underlying cause of death 56.”
From The relationship between different dimensions of alcohol use and the burden of disease—an update (2017) · cites this paper as [55]

Mechanisms of fatal opioid overdose
White, J. M., & Irvine, R. J. (1999) · Addiction · doi:10.1046/j.1360-0443.1999.9479612.x · Cited by 635
Loss of tolerance and overdose mortality after inpatient opiate detoxification: follow up study
Strang, J., McCambridge, J., Best, D. W., Beswick, T., Bearn, J., Rees, S., & Gossop, M. (2003) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7396.959 · Cited by 339
Opiates, cocaine and alcohol combinations in accidental drug overdose deaths in New York City, 1990–98
Coffin, P. O., Galea, S., Ahern, J., Leon, A. C., Vlahov, D., & Tardiff, K. J. (2003) · Addiction · doi:10.1046/j.1360-0443.2003.00376.x · Cited by 334
Predictors of non-fatal overdose among a cohort of polysubstance-using injection drug users
Kerr, T. H., Fairbairn, N. S., TYNDALL, M. W., Marsh, D. C., Li, K. K., Montaner, J., & Wood, E. (2006) · Drug and Alcohol Dependence · doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.07.009 · Cited by 313
Mortality from overdose among injecting drug users recently released from prison: database linkage study
Seaman, S. R., Brettle, R. P., & Gore, S. M. (1998) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.316.7129.426 · Cited by 292
The impact of opioid substitution therapy on mortality post‐release from prison: retrospective data linkage study
Degenhardt, L. J., Larney, S., Kimber, J., Gisev, N., Farrell, M., Dobbins, T., Weatherburn, D., Gibson, A., Mattick, R. P., Butler, T. G., et al. (2014) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/add.12536 · Cited by 223
Heroin-related deaths in New South Wales, Australia, 1992–1996
Darke, S. G., Ross, J. E., ZADOR, D. A., & Sunjic, S. (2000) · Drug and Alcohol Dependence · doi:10.1016/s0376-8716(99)00147-7 · Cited by 216
Self-citation
Fatal Heroin-Related Overdose in San Francisco, 1997-2000: a Case for Targeted Intervention
Davidson, P. J. (2003) · Journal of Heredity · doi:10.1093/jurban/jtg029 · Cited by 173
Calling emergency medical services during drug overdose: an examination of individual, social and setting correlates
Tobin, K. E., Davey-Rothwell, M. A., & Latkin, C. A. (2005) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2005.00975.x · Cited by 157
Overdose among heroin users in Sydney, Australia: II. Responses to overdose
Darke, S. G., Ross, J. E., & Hall, W. (1996) · Addiction · doi:10.1046/j.1360-0443.1996.91341310.x · Cited by 155
Self-citation
Provision of naloxone to injection drug users as an overdose prevention strategy: Early evidence from a pilot study in New York City
Galea, S., Worthington, N., Piper, T. M., Nandi, V., Curtis, M., & ROSENTHAL, D. M. (2005) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2005.07.020 · Cited by 131
Heroin-Related Deaths: New Epidemiologic Insights
Ruttenber, A. J., & Luke, J. L. (1984) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.6474188 · Cited by 130
Fluctuations in heroin purity and the incidence of fatal heroin overdose
Darke, S. G., Hall, W., Weatherburn, D., & Lind, B. (1999) · Drug and Alcohol Dependence · doi:10.1016/s0376-8716(98)00159-8 · Cited by 122
Self-citation
What Heroin Users Tell Us About Overdose
Baca, C. T., & Grant, K. J. (2007) · Journal of Addictive Diseases · doi:10.1300/j069v26n04_08 · Cited by 112
The Role of Ethanol Abuse in the Etiology of Heroin-Related Death
Ruttenber, A. J., Kalter, H. D., & Santinga, P. (1990) · Journal of Forensic Sciences · doi:10.1520/jfs12902j · Cited by 103
Mortality among problem drug users in Rome: an 18‐year follow‐up study, 1980–97
Bargagli, A. M., Sperati, A., Davoli, M., Forastiere, F., & Perucci, C. A. (2001) · Addiction · doi:10.1046/j.1360-0443.2001.961014559.x · Cited by 97
Use of morphine and 6‐monoacetylmorphine in blood for the evaluation of possible risk factors for sudden death in 192 heroin users
Fugelstad, A., Ahlner, J., Brandt, L., Ceder, G., Eksborg, S., Rajs, J., & Beck, O. (2003) · Addiction · doi:10.1046/j.1360-0443.2003.00330.x · Cited by 91
The comparative toxicology and major organ pathology of fatal methadone and heroin toxicity cases
Darke, S. G., Duflou, J. A., & Torok, M. H. (2009) · Drug and Alcohol Dependence · doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.07.014 · Cited by 87
Self-citation
Morphine and Morphine Glucuronides in Serum of Heroin Consumers and in Heroin-Related Deaths Determined by HPLC with Native Fluorescence Detection*
Aderjan, R., Hofmann, S., Schmitt, G., & Skopp, G. (1995) · Journal of Analytical Toxicology · doi:10.1093/jat/19.3.163 · Cited by 86
Some Observations Concerning Blood Morphine Concentrations in Narcotic Addicts
Monforte, J. R. (1977) · Journal of Forensic Sciences · doi:10.1520/jfs10410j · Cited by 82
Incidence of opiates, amphetamines, and cocaine in hair and blood in fatal cases of heroin overdose
Kronstrand, R., Grundin, R., & Jonsson, J. (1998) · Forensic Science International · doi:10.1016/s0379-0738(98)00003-6 · Cited by 81
The toxicology of heroin-related death: estimating survival times
Darke, S. G., & Duflou, J. A. (2016) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/add.13429 · Cited by 79
Self-citation
Trends in drug overdose deaths in England and Wales 1993–98: methadone does not kill more people than heroin
Hickman, M., Madden, P., Henry, J. A., Baker, A., Wallace, C., Wakefield, J., Stimson, G. V., & Elliott, P. (2003) · Addiction · doi:10.1046/j.1360-0443.2003.00294.x · Cited by 72
Are non-fatal opioid overdoses misclassified suicide attempts? Comparing the associated correlates
Maloney, E. A., Degenhardt, L. J., Darke, S. G., & Nelson, E. C. (2009) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2009.04.011 · Cited by 71
Self-citation
Understanding Heroin Overdose: A Study of the Acute Respiratory Depressant Effects of Injected Pharmaceutical Heroin
Jolley, C. J., Bell, J. R., Rafferty, G. F., Moxham, J., & Strang, J. (2015) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0140995 · Cited by 68
Prevalence and Circumstances of Opiate Overdose Among Injection Drug Users in the Russian Federation
Sergeev, B. (2003) · Journal of Heredity · doi:10.1093/jurban/jtg024 · Cited by 67
Heroin-related deaths in Victoria: a review of cases for 1997 and 1998
Gerostamoulos, D. (2001) · Drug and Alcohol Dependence · doi:10.1016/s0376-8716(00)00128-9 · Cited by 63
The Consumers Union Report on Licit and Illicit Drugs
Brecher, E. M. (2012) · Cited by 54
Quality of heroin and heroin‐related deaths from 1987 to 1995 in Vienna, Austria
Risser, D., Uhl, A., Stichenwirth, M., Hönigschnabl, S., Hirz, W., Schneider, B., Stellwag-Carion, C., Klupp, N., Vycudilik, W., & Bauer, G. (2000) · Addiction · doi:10.1046/j.1360-0443.2000.9533758.x · Cited by 50
The Life of the Heroin User
Darke, S. G. (2011) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511732249 · Cited by 46
Self-citation
A cost‐effectiveness analysis of opioid substitution therapy upon prison release in reducing mortality among people with a history of opioid dependence
Gisev, N., Shanahan, M., Weatherburn, D., Mattick, R. P., Larney, S., Burns, L., & Degenhardt, L. J. (2015) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/add.13073 · Cited by 37
Comparative toxicology of fatal heroin overdose cases and morphine positive homicide victims
Darke, S. G., Duflou, J. A., & Kaye, S. S. (2007) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.01980.x · Cited by 29
Self-citation
Drug “Overdoses “among U.S. Soldiers in Europe, 1978-1979. II. Psychological Autopsies Following Deaths and Near-Deaths
Manning, F. J., Ingraham, L. H., Derouin, E. M., Vaughn, M. S., Kukura, F., & Michel, G. R. S. (1983) · International Journal of the Addictions · doi:10.3109/10826088309027349 · Cited by 21
Drug “Overdoses” among U.S. Soldiers in Europe, 1978–1979. I. Demographics and Toxicology
Manning, F. J., & Ingraham, L. H. (1983) · International Journal of the Addictions · doi:10.3109/10826088309027286 · Cited by 18
Blood free morphine levels vary with concomitant alcohol and benzodiazepine use
Stenhouse, G., Stephen, D. W. S., & Grieve, J. H. K. (2004) · Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.jcfm.2004.04.008 · Cited by 13

Flagged first, then by citations

Sorted by citations

The relationship between different dimensions of alcohol use and the burden of disease—an update
Rehm, J., Gmel, G. E., Gmel, G., Hasan, O. S. M., Imtiaz, S., Popova, S., Probst, C., Roerecke, M., Room, R., Samokhvalov, A. V., et al. (2017) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/add.13757 · Cited by 1,204
Polysubstance use in the U.S. opioid crisis
Compton, W. M., Valentino, R. J., & DuPont, R. L. (2020) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41380-020-00949-3 · Cited by 298
A crisis of opioids and the limits of prescription control: United States
Kertesz, S. G., & Gordon, A. J. (2018) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/add.14394 · Cited by 89
Caretaker role fatigue.
Goldstein, V., Regnery, G., & Wellin, E. (1981) · PubMed · Cited by 55
Not just heroin: Extensive polysubstance use among US high school seniors who currently use heroin
Palamar, J. J., Le, A., & Mateu‐Gelabert, P. (2018) · Drug and Alcohol Dependence · doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.05.001 · Cited by 34
Assessing Drug Consumption Rooms and Longer Term (5 Year) Impacts on Community and Clients
Tran, V., Reid, S. E., Roxburgh, A., & Day, C. A. (2021) · Risk Management and Healthcare Policy · doi:10.2147/rmhp.s244720 · Cited by 27
Alcohol Problems among Prisoners: Subgroup Variations, Concurrent Drug Problems, and Treatment Needs
Pape, H., Rossow, I. M., & Bukten, A. (2020) · European Addiction Research · doi:10.1159/000511253 · Cited by 23
Nonconsensual Dose Reduction Mandates are Not Justified Clinically or Ethically: An Analysis
Kertesz, S. G., Manhapra, A., & Gordon, A. J. (2020) · The Journal of Law Medicine & Ethics · doi:10.1177/1073110520935337 · Cited by 20
Epidemics of HIV, HCV and syphilis infection among synthetic drugs only users, heroin-only users and poly-drug users in Southwest China
Su, S., Mao, L., Zhao, J., Chen, L., Jing, J., Cheng, F., & Zhang, L. (2018) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-018-25038-y · Cited by 19
Determining the effective dose of street-level heroin: A new way to consider fluctuations in heroin purity, mass and potential contribution to overdose
Stam, N. C., Gerostamoulos, D., Gerstner-Stevens, J., Scott, N., Smith, K. L., Drummer, O. H., & Schumann, J. (2018) · Forensic Science International · doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.07.009 · Cited by 18
Changes in the development of opioid tolerance on re-exposure among people who use heroin: A qualitative study
Kesten, J. M., Holder, E., Ayres, R. M., Ellis, P., Taylor, S., Hickman, M., & Henderson, G. (2022) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0269379 · Cited by 10
Association between recreational drug use and sexual practices among people who inject drugs in Southwest China: a cross-sectional study
Su, S., Zhang, L., Cheng, F., Li, S., Li, S., Jing, J., Fairley, C. K., Chen, L., Zhao, J., & Mao, L. (2018) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019730 · Cited by 10
Trends and characteristics in barbiturate deaths Australia 2000–2019: a national retrospective study
Campbell, G., Darke, S. G., Zahra, E., Duflou, J. A., Shand, F., & Lappin, J. (2020) · Clinical Toxicology · doi:10.1080/15563650.2020.1789653 · Cited by 8
Self-citation
Substance use treatment services for older adults in five states in the Southern United States: a state-by-state comparison of available treatment services
Mumba, M. N., Jaiswal, J., Bui, C., Evans, T., Mainzinger, L., Davis, L. L., & Mugoya, G. C. T. (2022) · Aging & Mental Health · doi:10.1080/13607863.2022.2098911 · Cited by 8
Toxic Acute Kidney Injury
Albuquerque, P. L. M. M., & Shihana, F. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-44500-3_5 · Cited by 7
Development of a proto-typology of opiate overdose onset
Neale, J., Bradford, J., & Strang, J. (2016) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/add.13589 · Cited by 7
Substance abuse and male sexual dysfunction: what lies beneath?
Mostafa, T., & Alghobary, M. F. (2023) · Sexual Medicine Reviews · doi:10.1093/sxmrev/qead011 · Cited by 6
“Beyond Safer Injecting”—Health and Social Needs and Acceptance of Support among Clients of a Supervised Injecting Facility
Běláčková, V., Silins, E., Salmon, A. M., JAUNCEY, M. E., & Day, C. (2019) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph16112032 · Cited by 6
Overdose Risk and Client Characteristics Associated With the Injection of Buprenorphine at a Medically Supervised Injecting Center in Sydney, Australia
Power, J., Salmon, A. M., Latimer, J., JAUNCEY, M. E., & Day, C. (2019) · Substance Use & Misuse · doi:10.1080/10826084.2019.1600147 · Cited by 5
Fatal and Non-Fatal Heroin-Related Overdoses: Circumstances and Patterns
Schneider, S. O., Richter, C., Niethammer, R., & Beisel, L. (2021) · Substance Use & Misuse · doi:10.1080/10826084.2021.1963986 · Cited by 4
Overdose Research: 15 Years Later
Coffin, P. O., & Rich, J. D. (2019) · Journal of Urban Health · doi:10.1007/s11524-018-00344-y · Cited by 4
Differences in heroin overdose risk associated with the unregulated drug market: Insights from a supervised injecting facility in Melbourne, Australia
Stam, N. C., Furler, J., Hiley, S., & Schumann, J. (2024) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/add.16706 · Cited by 3
Postmortem toxicology findings from medicolegal investigations of drug-related deaths among the rich and famous
Jones, A. W. (2017) · Annales de Toxicologie Analytique · doi:10.1016/j.toxac.2017.04.001 · Cited by 3
6‐Monoacetylmorphine‐antibody distribution in tissues from heroin‐related death cases: An experimental study to investigate the distributive response
Maiese, A., Russa, R. L., David, M. C., Cantatore, S., Manetti, A. C., Matteis, A. D., Ciallella, C., Frati, P., & Fineschi, V. (2022) · Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine · doi:10.1111/jcmm.17351 · Cited by 2
Longitudinal Opioid Surveillance Project Involving Toxicologic Analysis of Postmortem Specimens from 9 Counties in Michigan Suggests the Discovery of New High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas
Stevens, C., Li, T., Ton, E., Zou, J., Douglas, E. A., & Jones, P. (2021) · American Journal of Forensic Medicine & Pathology · doi:10.1097/paf.0000000000000675 · Cited by 2
Addiction Classics
Darke, S. G. (2016) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/add.13530 · Cited by 2
Self-citation
Heroin intoxication in a dog
McDermott, F. M., Henriksson, A., & Wismer, T. A. (2021) · Veterinary Record Case Reports · doi:10.1002/vrc2.83 · Cited by 1
Law enforcement officer perceptions of the Good Samaritan law and their role in the opioid epidemic in the United States
Crist, M. N., & Brenner, P. S. (2024) · Policing An International Journal · doi:10.1108/pijpsm-05-2024-0080 · Cited by 1
Basic Substance Characteristics and Neuropathological Findings in Drug Abusers
Büttner, A. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-60531-5_4 · Cited by 1
Heroinintoxikationen: Risikofaktoren zur Notfallanamnese aus Expertensicht
Schneider, S. O., Richter, C., Niethammer, R., & Beisel, L. (2020) · Notarzt · doi:10.1055/a-1326-1031 · Cited by 1
Introduction
Pardal, M. (2022) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781003055679-1 · Cited by 1
Grundlegende Substanzmerkmale und neuropathologische Befunde bei Drogenkonsumenten
Büttner, A. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-13619-1_4 · Cited by 1
Insights in opiates toxicity: impairment of human vascular mesenchymal stromal cells
Mazzotti, M. C., Teti, G., Giorgetti, A., Carano, F., Pelletti, G., Pascali, J. P., Falconi, M., Pelotti, S., & Fais, P. (2023) · International Journal of Legal Medicine · doi:10.1007/s00414-023-02961-y · Cited by 1
Resuscitation following opioid overdose: More are needed
Ruan, X., Luo, J. J., & Kaye, A. D. (2016) · Journal of Critical Care · doi:10.1016/j.jcrc.2016.08.028 · Cited by 1
Blood Borne Viruses (HIV, HBV and HCV) among Participants of a Swedish Needle Exchange Program
Blomé, M. A. (2016) · Lund University Publications (Lund University) · Cited by 1
Commentary on Freeman et al. (2019): Why does cannabis potency still vary across European countries?
Reuter, P. (2019) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/add.14613
Prescribing, Prescription Monitoring, and Health Policy
Gordon, A. J., Cochran, G., Smid, M. C., Manhapra, A., & Kertesz, S. G. (2019) · Current clinical psychiatry · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-16257-3_11

Authors: Darke, S.
Affiliations: UNSW Sydney (AU)
Corresponding author: Darke, Shane
ORCID: Darke, Shane
Venue: Addiction
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2016-08-10
Volume: 111
Issue: 11
Pages: 2060-2063
ISSN: 0965-2140 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1111/add.13516
OpenAlex: W2489377402
Cited by: 37
References: 35
Citations by year: 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 4
FWCI: 0.80
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1.1 (tdm)
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Addiction (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
Health Sciences › Medicine › Emergency Medicine › Poisoning and overdose treatments
Keywords: heroin overdose, opioid overdose, morphine tolerance, polypharmacy, drug purity, drug overdose deaths, overdose risk factors
MeSH terms: Heroin, Heroin Dependence, Risk Factors, Time Factors, History, 20th Century, Drug Overdose

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Heroin overdose: Opioid overdose

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks