[Fatal sniffing of heroin (author's transl)].

Sniffing of heroin could be demonstrated in four acute deaths of drug addicts by radioimmunological analysis of the nasal mucosa. In addition, the influence of other drugs (benzodiazepines, barbiturates) or chronic diseases (hepatitis, cardiomyopathy), and acute alterations (pneumonia, myocarditis) were responsible for the fatal course. Different routes of application of drugs, especially heroin, are cited from literature and discussed.