Typology of drug abuse deaths in Hamburg.

Based on a multidisciplinary approach (social-scientific questionnaire and forensic-pathological investigations), a typology of the drug-related fatalities in Hamburg during the period from July 1991 to June 1992 was achieved. A distinction between 3 types of addicts is proposed. Each group represents a different consumption pattern: (1) the opioid type, (2) polyvalent-drug users, and (3) primary alcoholics.

Etiology of accidental/unexpected overdose in drug-induced deaths.

The life-threatening risk for drug addicts is the accidental/unexpected overdose (in Germany mostly caused by opiates). The problem of drug addiction, which encompasses all aspects of the individual's life, is accompanied by the additional negative reinforcement of the permanent danger of a sudden fatal outcome. The causes for an accidental fatal intoxication originate from the different qualities of heroin, the reduced tolerance of the body and carelessness in consuming drugs.

Major and trace elements and cosmic-ray produced radioisotopes in lunar samples.

Analytical data for 42 major and trace elements were mostly obtained by a combination of instrumental and radiochemical neutron activation analyses using both thermal and 14-million-electronvolt neutrons. Excesses of nitrogen and chlorine in the fines, compared with the rocks, are attributed to the solar wind. A striking similarity for contents of seven elements in lunar metal and metal from the calcium-rich achondrite Juvinas was noted.