Karinen Ritva, Tuv Silja Skogstad, Rogde Sidsel, Peres Mariana Dadalto, Johansen Unni, Frost Joachim, Vindenes Vigdis, Øiestad Åse Marit Leere
Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Forensic Sciences, Box 4404 Nydalen, 0403 Oslo, Norway.
Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Forensic Sciences, Box 4404 Nydalen, 0403 Oslo, Norway.
Forensic Sci Int. 2014 Nov;244:e21-4. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.08.013. Epub 2014 Aug 26.
AH-7921 is a synthetic μ-opioid agonist, approximately equipotent with morphine. We report the death of two young individuals after ingestion of AH-7921 in combination with other psychoactive drugs. In the first case a young man died shortly after ingesting Internet drugs. Toxicological analysis of post mortem peripheral blood revealed AH-7921 (0.43 mg/L), 2-FMA (0.0069 mg/L) and 3-MMC (0.0021 mg/L) as well as codeine (0.42 mg/L), codeine-6-glucuronide (0.77 mg/L) and acetaminophen (18.7 mg/L). The second case involved a young female found dead at home. The only positive finding at medicolegal autopsy was needle marks. Toxicological analysis revealed AH-7921 (0.33 mg/L), methoxetamine (MXE) (0.064 mg/L), etizolam (0.27 mg/L), phenazepam (1.33 mg/L), 7-aminonitrazepam (0.043 mg/L), diazepam (0.046 mg/L), nordiazepam (0.073 mg/L), and oxazepam (0.018 mg/L) in blood. In both cases intoxication with AH-7921 in combination with other psychoactive drugs was considered to be the cause of death.