In a study published online in the journal Addiction, researchers have discovered that accidental cocaine overdose deaths increase when the average temperature is more than 75 degrees. The researchers used information from New York City’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner from 1990 through 2006 and temperature data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Accidental overdose deaths that were attributable in some part to cocaine use increased significantly as it got warmer. The number of cocaine-related overdose deaths continued to increase as the temperatures increased.
Cocaine-related overdose deaths increase as the temperature rises because cocaine increases the core body temperature, hurts the cardiovascular system’s ability to cool the body, and lowers the sense of heat-related discomfort that ordinarily drives people to avoid becoming overheated. Cocaine users who become overheated can overdose on smaller amounts of cocaine because their bodies are under increased physical stress.
The study authors urge caution and prevention. This could include making air conditioning available in places where cocaine use is prevalent, especially in neighborhoods with elevated numbers of cocaine-related deaths or arrests.
"Cocaine users are at a high risk for a number of negative health outcomes and need public health attention, particularly when the weather is warm," said Dr. Amy Bohnert, the lead author of the study.
