[Who dies of morphine and dextropropoxyphene intoxication? Danish experiences from the period 1979-1992].

We studied deaths following intoxication with dextropropoxyphene (D) and opioids (M) in Denmark 1979-1992 with special reference to the sex, age group, contributory cause of death (secondary diagnosis) and manner of death. Deaths following D increased until 1985 for both sexes, where a total of 46 women and 64 men died. In 1985 the National Board of Health drew public attention to this problem which led to a decrease in these deaths among men, while in women a paradoxical increase in suicides outnumbered a reduction in deaths from intoxication accidents. In 1988 D was assigned to the more restrictive prescription rules of opioids, which further reduced the number of deaths. The reduction of D deaths was followed by a corresponding increase in deaths due to M. However, the demographic characteristics of D and M deaths were not entirely identical: The typical D victim had a history of psychiatric disease or drug/alcohol abuse and committed suicide; the age was 40-59 for women and 20-39 for men. The typical M victim also had a history of psychiatric disease and substance abuse but suicides were less common and the majority occurred in the age group 20-39 in both sexes. Both D and M deaths were rare in persons with a somatic secondary diagnosis. We conclude that these poisonings warrant continued attention, and that a more restrictive prescription practice of D and M to patients at risk is justified.