Abstract
Post-mortem case details, including toxicology, of deaths involving novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are limited due to the relatively recent emergence of NPS as a global problem. Acetyl fentanyl, an illicit fentanyl analogue, is no exception, with its prevalence being documented since 2013. This case report seeks to provide pathology and toxicology findings of a sudden death attributed to acetyl fentanyl use. Following injection of acetyl fentanyl, a 24-year old male died suddenly. The autopsy indicated pulmonary oedema and congestion, and early aspiration pneumonia as the only notable findings. Preliminary toxicology testing was inconclusive until drug paraphernalia found at the scene of death was shown to contain acetyl fentanyl. Subsequent toxicological analysis of the post-mortem samples revealed an acetyl fentanyl blood concentration of approximately 400 μg/L and a liver concentration of approximately 3000 μg/kg.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 73-77 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences |
| Volume | 51 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 18 Apr 2017 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2 Jan 2019 |
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An acetyl fentanyl death in Western Australia. / Moss, Daniel M.; Brown, David H.; Douglas, Bianca J.
In: Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, Vol. 51, No. 1, 02.01.2019, p. 73-77.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - An acetyl fentanyl death in Western Australia
AU - Moss, Daniel M.
AU - Brown, David H.
AU - Douglas, Bianca J.
PY - 2019/1/2
Y1 - 2019/1/2
N2 - Post-mortem case details, including toxicology, of deaths involving novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are limited due to the relatively recent emergence of NPS as a global problem. Acetyl fentanyl, an illicit fentanyl analogue, is no exception, with its prevalence being documented since 2013. This case report seeks to provide pathology and toxicology findings of a sudden death attributed to acetyl fentanyl use. Following injection of acetyl fentanyl, a 24-year old male died suddenly. The autopsy indicated pulmonary oedema and congestion, and early aspiration pneumonia as the only notable findings. Preliminary toxicology testing was inconclusive until drug paraphernalia found at the scene of death was shown to contain acetyl fentanyl. Subsequent toxicological analysis of the post-mortem samples revealed an acetyl fentanyl blood concentration of approximately 400 μg/L and a liver concentration of approximately 3000 μg/kg.
AB - Post-mortem case details, including toxicology, of deaths involving novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are limited due to the relatively recent emergence of NPS as a global problem. Acetyl fentanyl, an illicit fentanyl analogue, is no exception, with its prevalence being documented since 2013. This case report seeks to provide pathology and toxicology findings of a sudden death attributed to acetyl fentanyl use. Following injection of acetyl fentanyl, a 24-year old male died suddenly. The autopsy indicated pulmonary oedema and congestion, and early aspiration pneumonia as the only notable findings. Preliminary toxicology testing was inconclusive until drug paraphernalia found at the scene of death was shown to contain acetyl fentanyl. Subsequent toxicological analysis of the post-mortem samples revealed an acetyl fentanyl blood concentration of approximately 400 μg/L and a liver concentration of approximately 3000 μg/kg.
KW - Acetyl fentanyl
KW - illicit fentanyl analogue
KW - post-mortem toxicology
KW - sudden death
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85017600088&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/00450618.2017.1315836
DO - 10.1080/00450618.2017.1315836
M3 - Article
VL - 51
SP - 73
EP - 77
JO - Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences Online
JF - Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences Online
SN - 0045-0618
IS - 1
ER -