Fatal injuries after cocaine use as a leading cause of death among young adults in New York City

Mortal injury following cocaine use may be one of the five most common causes of death in people 15 to 44 years old in New York City. Researchers tested the blood or urine of 12,960 people who had died from fatal injuries in New York City, between 1990 and 1992 for cocaine or its metabolite, benzoylecgonine. Approximately 27% of these people had used cocaine within 3 days of their death, as indicated by benzoylecgonine in their blood or urine. Approximately 18% had used cocaine just before death, as indicated by free cocaine in their blood. Fatal injury following cocaine use was the cause of death in 14% of people aged 15 to 24, and 10% of people aged 25 to 44. Approximately 65% of deaths from fatal injury after cocaine use were the result of violence rather than the effect of cocaine on the body. Death from injuries following cocaine use was particularly high among young blacks and Hispanics.