Detection and quantification of the hypnotic zopiclone,connected with an uncommon case of drowning

A fatality, attributed to a suicidal ingestion of zopiclone and subsequent death by drowning, is described. A radioimmunoassay was performed to prescreen for the presence of the analyte. HPLC analysis with fluorescence detection demonstrated a testicular tissue concentration of 2.2 μg/g zopiclone. Further toxicological analysis revealed also the presence of diazepam in a concentration of 150 ng/g.