A STUDY OF DEATHS INVOLVING OXYCODONE

Nine deaths involving oxycodone were investigated to assess the contri bution of this opiate to these fatalities. All except one of the bodie s were subjected to a full autopsy by specialist pathologists with a s ubsequent thorough toxicological examination. No significant anatomica l pathology was found at autopsy. All deaths gave concentrations of ox ycodone in femoral blood higher than expected following normal therape utic use. In three cases no other drug in toxic concentrations was det ected. Two cases involved the presence of a high concentration of a be nzodiazepine and in a further two cases a high concentration of alcoho l in addition to other drugs in therapeutic concentrations were presen t. One case involved methamphetamine in significant concentrations and another involved high concentrations of oxazepam in combination with pethidine. In all cases the presence of oxycodone was given as a facto r contributing to the death. In only one case were there circumstances clearly indicating suicide. Our observations suggest that oxycodone i s at least as toxic as other opiates and will cause deaths if misused.