We have located links that may give you full text access.
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
Ambient temperature and mortality from unintentional cocaine overdose.
JAMA 1998 June 11
CONTEXT: Hot weather taxes cardiovascular function and is associated with increased deaths from heart disease. Cocaine can cause hypertension, tachycardia, coronary vasospasm, arrhythmias, and increased core temperature.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between mortality from cocaine overdose and hot weather.
SETTING: New York, NY.
DESIGN: Retrospective review of medical examiner cases from 1990 through 1995.
SUBJECTS: All fatal unintentional cocaine overdoses from 1990 through 1992 (n = 1382) and all hyperthermia deaths of cocaine users (n = 10) were used to identify a maximum daily temperature threshold above which mortality from cocaine intoxication increased. The study population consisted of all fatal unintentional cocaine overdoses from 1993 through 1995 (n = 2008) and 4 contemporaneous comparison groups that included fatal unintentional opiate overdoses (n = 793), all other fatal unintentional overdoses (n = 85), and a subset of homicides (n = 4638) and fatalities from motor vehicle crashes (n = 815).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of overdose deaths and the proportion of homicides and traffic fatalities with a positive cocaine toxicology test result on days with a maximum temperature above or below the temperature threshold.
RESULTS: A threshold temperature of 31.1 degrees C (88 degrees F) was identified, above which the mean daily number of fatal cocaine overdoses increased steadily. On days with a maximum daily temperature of 31.1 degrees C (88 degrees F) or higher ("hot days"), the mean daily number of cocaine overdose deaths was 2.34 (SD = 1.68), which was 33% higher than the mean on days with a maximum temperature of less than 31.1 degrees C (88 degrees F) (mean = 1.76 [SD=1.37] (P<.001). In contrast, the mean number of opiate overdose deaths per day was 0.81 (SD = 0.94) on hot days and 0.71 (SD = 0.86) on other days (P=.28). For other drug overdose deaths, the mean number of deaths per day was 0.08 (SD = 0.28) on hot days and 0.08 (SD = 0.28) on other days (P=.69). Among homicides, the proportion with a positive cocaine toxicology test result was 18.9% on hot days and 19.5% on other days (P=.69), and among traffic fatalities, the proportions with positive cocaine toxicology test results were 9.5% on hot days and 10.3% on other days (P=.91).
CONCLUSIONS: High ambient temperature is associated with a significant increase in mortality from cocaine overdose. Based on our comparison groups, the increase is not explained by changes in cocaine use among the general population. Although cocaine use is dangerous on all days, it appears to be even more dangerous on hot days.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between mortality from cocaine overdose and hot weather.
SETTING: New York, NY.
DESIGN: Retrospective review of medical examiner cases from 1990 through 1995.
SUBJECTS: All fatal unintentional cocaine overdoses from 1990 through 1992 (n = 1382) and all hyperthermia deaths of cocaine users (n = 10) were used to identify a maximum daily temperature threshold above which mortality from cocaine intoxication increased. The study population consisted of all fatal unintentional cocaine overdoses from 1993 through 1995 (n = 2008) and 4 contemporaneous comparison groups that included fatal unintentional opiate overdoses (n = 793), all other fatal unintentional overdoses (n = 85), and a subset of homicides (n = 4638) and fatalities from motor vehicle crashes (n = 815).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of overdose deaths and the proportion of homicides and traffic fatalities with a positive cocaine toxicology test result on days with a maximum temperature above or below the temperature threshold.
RESULTS: A threshold temperature of 31.1 degrees C (88 degrees F) was identified, above which the mean daily number of fatal cocaine overdoses increased steadily. On days with a maximum daily temperature of 31.1 degrees C (88 degrees F) or higher ("hot days"), the mean daily number of cocaine overdose deaths was 2.34 (SD = 1.68), which was 33% higher than the mean on days with a maximum temperature of less than 31.1 degrees C (88 degrees F) (mean = 1.76 [SD=1.37] (P<.001). In contrast, the mean number of opiate overdose deaths per day was 0.81 (SD = 0.94) on hot days and 0.71 (SD = 0.86) on other days (P=.28). For other drug overdose deaths, the mean number of deaths per day was 0.08 (SD = 0.28) on hot days and 0.08 (SD = 0.28) on other days (P=.69). Among homicides, the proportion with a positive cocaine toxicology test result was 18.9% on hot days and 19.5% on other days (P=.69), and among traffic fatalities, the proportions with positive cocaine toxicology test results were 9.5% on hot days and 10.3% on other days (P=.91).
CONCLUSIONS: High ambient temperature is associated with a significant increase in mortality from cocaine overdose. Based on our comparison groups, the increase is not explained by changes in cocaine use among the general population. Although cocaine use is dangerous on all days, it appears to be even more dangerous on hot days.
Full text links
Related Resources
Trending Papers
Challenges in Septic Shock: From New Hemodynamics to Blood Purification Therapies.Journal of Personalized Medicine 2024 Februrary 4
Molecular Targets of Novel Therapeutics for Diabetic Kidney Disease: A New Era of Nephroprotection.International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2024 April 4
The 'Ten Commandments' for the 2023 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of endocarditis.European Heart Journal 2024 April 18
A Guide to the Use of Vasopressors and Inotropes for Patients in Shock.Journal of Intensive Care Medicine 2024 April 14
Diagnosis and Management of Cardiac Sarcoidosis: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.Circulation 2024 April 19
Essential thrombocythaemia: A contemporary approach with new drugs on the horizon.British Journal of Haematology 2024 April 9
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app