Analysis of Methamphetamine‐Related Deaths: A Retrospective Cross‐Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION: Methamphetamine use and related mortality have increased worldwide, yet forensic data from Turkey remain limited. METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional autopsy study investigated the demographic, toxicological and medicolegal characteristics of methamphetamine-related deaths in Zonguldak, Turkey, between 2015 and 2025. Among the 1863 forensic autopsies, 30 cases with analytically confirmed methamphetamine positivity were included. RESULTS: The mean age was 33.4 ± 8.7 years and 90.0% of the cases were male. The highest annual proportion of forensic autopsies with methamphetamine detected was observed in 2023. Accidental death was the most common manner of death and methamphetamine toxicity was the leading cause of death. All natural deaths were attributed to cardiovascular disease. Polydrug use was present in 56.7% of the cases. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that methamphetamine-related deaths in Turkey share demographic and forensic characteristics with international reports and underscore the growing medicolegal and public health burden associated with stimulant use.