Unintentional opiate overdose deaths--King County, Washington, 1990-1999.

Heroin and other opiates are central nervous system depressants; in an opiate overdose, respiration slows, potentially resulting in hypoxia, coma, or death. In 1998, 140 deaths from unintentional opiate overdoses occurred in King County (which includes Seattle). To characterize these deaths, public health staff analyzed medical examiner data during 1990-1999. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicate that the annual number of opiate overdoses increased 134% (from 47 to 110) and the county population increased 11.3% (1998 estimated population: 1.7 million).