Addiction and Substance Abuse

Is this an average fatal dose of heroin?

05/04/2008 12:54PM

Question:

My brother was 49 years old and passed away from "chronic drug and alcohol abuse" He used for 25 or more years of his life, I was wondering if you can tell me if 0.43 mg/L of Morphine (free) found in his Left Femoral blood is a high dose on average? They also found Alcohol 0.07% and Benzoylecgonine 0.10 mg/L in his blood. I am thinking these are not very high doses alone but put together they caused his death. Also can you tell me approximately how long he had been dead if when he was found rigor mortis was present and hard to break (set). Lividity was present, fixed and dark in color? And the temperature the night before he was found was 35 degrees. Also what does this mean? The ocular areas appeared congested? Does that mean he was crying?

Answer:

Thank you for visiting NetWellness. Unfortunately, your questions are beyond the scope of this service as NetWellness experts provide general information about health and wellness. Please direct your questions to the coroner's office or a toxicologist. Please accept our condolences on the loss of your brother.

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Response by:

Edna M. Jones, MD, MRO
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Family Medicine
College of Medicine
The Ohio State University