Trends in fatal poisoning among medical users of analgesics in France from 2013 to 2022: an analysis of the DTA register

Abstract

Objective

To describe analgesic-related deaths in France and report trends over a 10-year period.

Study design

The DTA (“Décès Toxiques par Antalgiques”) register is a French database of analgesic-related deaths among people without a history of drug abuse, reported by forensic toxicology experts.

Methods

We included analgesic-related deaths occurring from January 2013 to December 2022 in France. Subject demographic characteristics and medical history, forensic autopsy findings, and toxicology reports were evaluated.

Results

Among the 1036 deceased individuals (mean [SD] age, 48.3 [15.6] years), there were slightly more women than men (M:F sex ratio, 0.89:1). Over the entire study period, tramadol was the leading cause of death, ahead of morphine. A relative increase in oxycodone-related mortality was observed (from 6.8% in 2013 to 21.1% in 2022) compared to a progressive decrease in tramadol, morphine, and codeine-related deaths (from 43.2%, 31.1% and 24.3% in 2013 to 37.5%, 26.6% and 20.3% in 2022, respectively). However, no statistically significant variations were found (Chi-squared tests of homogeneity). Other analgesics (buprenorphine, dihydrocodeine, fentanyl, gabapentin, ketamine, methadone, nefopam, and pregabalin) were also implicated in deaths, but with low and stable rates over the period studied.

Conclusions

In France, no increase in fentanyl-related deaths and only a non-significant increase in oxycodone-related deaths were observed over the period 2013–2022. Tramadol was the leading cause of analgesic-related deaths throughout this period. Although close monitoring is still required, particularly for oxycodone, our data do not support the hypothesis of an opioid crisis in France.