Typical Features of Opioid-Intoxicated Corpses in Isfahan, Iran

Background: Opioid use makes the largest contribution to drug abuse mortality, while it is increasing in the world, especially in Iran. Objectives: The current study aimed at obtain the typical features of corpses under methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and opium intoxication in Isfahan, Iran. Patients and Methods: The current cross sectional study was conducted on 742 opioid overdose deaths from March 2008 to March 2014; data on drug overdose death in forensic center affiliated to Iranian ministry of health and medical education were recorded by checklist. Results: Most of the opioid corpses were young (32.18 ± 10 years), male (76.4%), and single (58.2%). They had low income, low education and were found at home; injection was the most common way of drug abuse (47.2%). In toxicological findings, morphine was the most common drug and more than 40.7% of the corpses had the symptoms of chronic hepatitis. Pulmonary edema was the most common pathological finding. Conclusions: According to the current study findings, the low-educated and low-income young males were the most high-risk population for drug overdose death in Iran. The essential role of education and job-creation policies to prevent addiction and opium-related death was clarified.