Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36043796›Full record

ArticleCurrent neuropharmacology2023

Contribution of Drugs to Drowning in Scotland from 1996 to 2020.

John Martin Corkery, Giovanni Martinotti, Fabrizio Schifano

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Current neuropharmacology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 31% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Characterizing fatal drownings in Newfoundland and Labrador: 2014 - 2023.Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

John Martin CorkeryPsychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane Campus, Hatfield, AL10 9AB, United Kingdom.
Giovanni MartinottiPsychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane Campus, Hatfield, AL10 9AB, United Kingdom.
Fabrizio SchifanoPsychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane Campus, Hatfield, AL10 9AB, United Kingdom.
University of Hertfordshire · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivePsychoactive substance use (including alcohol) can affect risk perception, leading to accidents and deaths. There is little detailed or up-to-date information on the role of drugs in drownings in the United Kingdom (UK). This Scottish case-study aimed to fill this knowledge gap.

methodsAnonymised data for individual drug-poisoning-related drowning registered from 1996 to 2020 were provided by the National Records of Scotland. Statistical analyses were performed for socio-demographics, ICD coding, cause of death, and substances implicated.

resultsIt has been reported that death registrations increased from 7 in 2017 to over 20 during 2019-20. These deaths (n=160) accounted for <1% of all drug-related poisoning deaths; this proportion rose to record levels (c.1.5%) during 2019-20. Most deaths (69%) involved males. The mean age was 39.8 (range 16-81, SD 15.0) years. The main drug classes implicated were: opiates/opioids (41%), benzodiazepines (31%), stimulants (19%), and antidepressants (14%). Moreover, 57% of benzodiazepines were 'designer' drugs.

conclusionScottish drownings associated with drug consumption are increasing rapidly. It has been observed that central nervous system depressant drugs (e.g., opioids, benzodiazepines, alcohol) are often involved in drowning. 'Designer' benzodiazepines are a principal factor in increasing Scottish drug-related poisoning deaths; they may be partially responsible for increasing numbers of related drownings. Evidence-based strategies to further reduce the number of preventable drownings should include reference to the dangers of drugs.

Indexed as

DrowningDrug-Related Side Effects and Adverse ReactionsAccidentsAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAnalgesics, OpioidBenzodiazepinesEthanolHumansMaleMiddle AgedScotlandYoung AdultAnalgesics, OpioidBenzodiazepinesEthanolbenzodiazepinesDrowningdrug-relatedfatalintoxicationScotland

Identifiers

PMID36043796
PMCPMC10556394
OpenAlexW4293560893

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.