Drug Abusers Dying Younger

The director of the University of Helsinki's Department of Forensic Medicine, Professor Erkki Vuori, says the risk of an overdose is greatest with intravenous drugs or when drugs are taken in a group with people who have developed a much higher tolerance for them.

Last year evidence of illicit drugs was found in the blood of 88 deceased Finns who died under the age of 30. The most common finding was of buprenorphine, while not a single case of a heroin overdose fatality was registered. Buprenorphine is used for the treatment of opiate dependence. One preparation, Subutex, has been widely abused by addicts.

Victims of drug-related deaths will be remembered in various events around Finland on Thursday.

Finnish News Agency, YLE24, YLE Radio News