Sperry K, Sweeney E S
University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Office of the Medical Investigator, Albuquerque.
J Forensic Sci. 1989 Jan;34(1):244-8.
Death as a consequence of cocaine abuse is continuing to increase in all parts of the United States. Cocaine use may cause the development of psychosis, with subsequent expression of suicidal ideations, and potentially even successful suicide. Cocaine dependence may also cause depression in the individual who is unable to control his or her craving for the drug, and suicide may be perceived as the only solution to a desperate problem. Despite the dramatic escalation of cocaine abuse and the potential toxicity of this drug, there have been no reports within the United States of cocaine being used as the agent to accomplish a suicide. Herewith are reported three cases in which depression and desperation over cocaine dependence were the motivations for successful suicide, which was accomplished through the intravenous injection of cocaine to the point of death. True cocaine suicide is probably only identified through the presence of objective scene information that unequivocally proves suicidal intent, such as notes or letters which contain information to this effect. A careful search of the scene of death in cocaine fatalities is mandatory, and diligent application of routine scene investigation principles may reveal that suicide through the use of cocaine is more widespread than first appearances would suggest.
在美国各地，因滥用可卡因导致的死亡人数持续上升。使用可卡因可能会引发精神病，随后出现自杀念头，甚至可能导致自杀成功。对于无法控制对毒品渴望的人来说，可卡因成瘾还可能导致抑郁，而自杀可能被视为解决绝望问题的唯一办法。尽管可卡因滥用急剧增加且该药物具有潜在毒性，但在美国尚无使用可卡因作为自杀手段的报道。在此报告三例因对可卡因成瘾感到抑郁和绝望而成功自杀的案例，自杀方式为静脉注射可卡因直至死亡。真正的可卡因自杀可能只有通过明确证明自杀意图的客观现场信息才能确定，比如包含此类信息的笔记或信件。对可卡因致死现场进行仔细搜查是必不可少的，认真运用常规现场调查原则可能会发现，使用可卡因自杀的情况比初看起来更为普遍。
