Oxycodone-Related Deaths Identified in Forensic Autopsies in Western Denmark, 2013-2025: A Retrospective Observational Study

AI Summary

Annual oxycodone poisonings rose from four in 2014 to sixteen in 2025; 107 of 183 decedents died from oxycodone-involved poisoning.
Decedents without oxycodone prescriptions and those with illicit drug use increased; concomitant psychoactive drugs were frequently detected in poisoning cases.
Twenty seven young decedents (15%) included 19 accidental oxycodone deaths; 16 occurred 2020-2025 and 10 had attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder.

TL;DR (AI Generated)

The present retrospective observational study aimed to investigate whether the annual number of fatal oxycodone poisonings increased over time in a population of decedents undergoing forensic autopsy in Western Denmark.

The number of decedents with no apparent prescription for oxycodone and decedents with illicit drug use increased as well, and other psychoactive drugs were frequently detected in oxycodone poisonings.

In conclusion, the present study demonstrates an increasing annual number of oxycodone poisonings among forensic autopsy cases in Western Denmark and suggests that further investigations and preventive efforts in the young may be warranted.

Basic summary

Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2026 Dec;139(6):e70332. doi: 10.1111/bcpt.70332.

ABSTRACT

Non-medical use of prescription opioids including oxycodone is an increasing concern in Denmark, particularly among young individuals. The present retrospective observational study aimed to investigate whether the annual number of fatal oxycodone poisonings increased over time in a population of decedents undergoing forensic autopsy in Western Denmark. We used retrospective data from the autopsy reports of all decedents with oxycodone detected in postmortem femoral blood from May 2013 through 2025 (n = 183). Among these, 107 (59%) died from poisoning involving oxycodone. The number of annual oxycodone poisonings increased from four in 2014 to 16 in 2025. The number of decedents with no apparent prescription for oxycodone and decedents with illicit drug use increased as well, and other psychoactive drugs were frequently detected in oxycodone poisonings. Twenty-seven decedents (15%) were young, defined as age ≤ 25 years. Nineteen (70%) of these 27 died from accidental oxycodone poisoning, 16 (84%) during 2020-2025. Attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder was reported as a comorbidity in 10 (37%) of the young decedents. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates an increasing annual number of oxycodone poisonings among forensic autopsy cases in Western Denmark and suggests that further investigations and preventive efforts in the young may be warranted.

PMID:43032940 | DOI:10.1111/bcpt.70332

Document this CPD