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A Drug Fatality Involving Kratom

2012; Wiley; Volume: 58; Issue: s1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/1556-4029.12009

1556-4029

Michael F. Neerman, Randall Frost, Janine DeKing,

Traditional and Medicinal Uses of Annonaceae

Abstract A 17‐year‐old white man who showed no obvious signs of trauma was found unresponsive in bed and was pronounced dead at the scene. The decedent had a documented history of heroin abuse and chronic back pain and reportedly self‐medicated with Kratom (mitragynine). The autopsy was remarkable only for pulmonary congestion and edema and a distended bladder, both of which are consistent with, though not diagnostic of, opiate use. A laboratory work‐up revealed therapeutic levels of over‐the‐counter cold medications and benzodiazepines. However, of interest was a level of mitragynine at 0.60 mg/L. Given the facts of the case, the Medical Examiner certified the cause of death as “possible Kratom toxicity” and the manner of death was classified as “accident.”