Introduction: Using opiates and opioids as well as other illicit drugs represents a serious health and social problem. Analysis of drug-related deaths is one of the essential indicators of the seriousness of drug-related problem. Obtained data serve as one of the bases for shaping anti-drug policy and strategy not only at regional but also national level. Patients and methods: The analysis of all deaths related to opiates and opioides abuse in Bratislava and Trnava region in the years 1996 and 2011 was performed. The autopsies were performed at the institutes of forensic medicine in Bratislava. The cases were divided into two groups according to the EMCDDA method: direct and indirect opiates and opioides-related deaths. Statistical analyses were made by means of SPSS software. Results: The criteria matched 304 cases – 2 % of all autopsies. There were 71 % of direct deaths and 29 % of indirect deaths. Males comprised 83 % of all cases and females 17 %. The age category from 1 to 34 years represented 85 % of cases. Heroin and its metabolites were detected in 44 % and methadone in 10 % of cases. The most frequent bicombination of substances were opiates and opioids and benzodiazepines and the tricombination of opiates and opioids, benzodiazepines and ethanol. In Bratislava region there were 87 % of all cases, in Trnava region the rest 13 %. In the district Bratislava II there were 25 % of all deaths. Likely 67 % of all cases were problem drug users with parenteral drug use. Conclusions: The results of the study showed a decreasing trend in the incidence of fatal consequences of opiates and opioids use in the region of Bratislava and Trnava. A significant predominance of deaths in Bratislava region and in the city of Bratislava reflects the fact that the capital city and its vicinityhave the largest number of problem opiates and opioids users. The results obtained in the analysis of the primary monitored parameters are similar to the findings of foreign and international, particularly European studies.

Key words: drug-related deaths – illicit drugs – opiates and opioids – morphology – autopsy – toxicological analysis