Alcohol and drugs are present in 53% of violent deaths, says USP

A study by USP (University of São Paulo) found that 53% of victims of violent deaths in four Brazilian capitals had alcohol or drugs in their system at the time of death.

The research evaluated 3,577 cases registered in Belém, Recife, Vitória and Curitiba. The results were published in the scientific journal Toxics. According to the researchers, the objective was to produce standardized data on the relationship between psychoactive substances and deaths from external causes in Brazil.

The analyzes included alcohol, illicit drugs and psychoactive medications. The samples were collected during necropsies carried out between 2022 and mid-2024. Among the substances most found in the victims were cocaine (30%), alcohol (28%), benzodiazepines (7%) and cannabis (2%).

The study also showed differences depending on the type of violent death. Cocaine appeared more frequently in homicide victims, while alcohol predominated in traffic deaths. Benzodiazepines were more common in cases of suicide.

According to the research, 67% of the deaths analyzed were homicides. Traffic accidents represented 15% of cases and suicides, 9%. The profile of the victims also revealed a male predominance: 90% were men and 56% were aged 30 or over.

Biomedical toxicologist Henrique Silva Bombana, lead author of the study, stated that the high presence of cocaine in homicides may reflect not only the use of the substance, but also the context of trafficking and structural violence.

The research was carried out based on an agreement between USP and the National Secretariat for Drug Policies and Asset Management (Senad). According to the researchers, the capitals were chosen because they combine high levels of violence and importance on international drug trafficking routes.

Source: CNN