Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Gazi Medical Journal, cilt.15, sa.3, ss.83-86, 2004 (Scopus)
Purpose: To describe and present for the first time the typical skin lesions at the injection sites of drug addicts using an unusual combination of heroin and flunitrazepam. Methods: Regarding drug dependence, 1869 patients were assessed over a 6-year period during 1997-2002, at the State Institute of Forensic Medicine, 4th Specialization Department. Results: This study is composed of 7 unique cases of typical skin lesions in which forensic medical observations were established at the State Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Istanbul, Turkey, from January 1997 to January 2003. Seven male heroin-flunitrazepam users (age range, 36-53 years; average, 41 years) were identifed among the 38 heroin addicts. The patients were living in the same district in Istanbul and knew each other; they were members of the so-called heroin/flunitrazepam clone. According to their explanation, this was the best and cheapest way to enhance the high feeling when they could buy only a small amount of heroin. Conclusion: We described unusual skin lesions of mixed drug addicts. This is the first report describing the clinical findings of heroin/flunitrazepam lesions at the injection sites.