Citation

Stenbacka M, Leifman A, Romelsjö A. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2010; 29(1): 21-27.

Affiliation

Stockholm Dependency Centre, Magnus Huss, Stockholm, Sweden. marlene.stenbacka@sll.se

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1465-3362.2009.00075.x

PMID

20078678

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: To examine the overall mortality and causes of deaths of a large cohort of users of illicit drugs in Stockholm over 37 years. DESIGN AND METHODS: People with substance abuse were identified through records collected by different institutions in Stockholm in 1967. Subjects were followed in registers recording mortality and cause of death and in-patient care stays until 2003. RESULTS: More than half (n = 860) of the 1705 identified substance abusers died at an average age of 47 years, 25-30 years younger than the general population. The standardized rate ratio (SRR) for mortality was 3.3 among men and 3.5 among women. Incidence of mortality per 1000 person-years was also increased, but somewhat lower for women. The difference between these two measures is mainly explained by a lower mortality among women in general. In-patient care stays with both alcohol and drug-related diagnoses were associated with higher risk of dying among women than men: SRR = 14.5 and SRR = 4.0, respectively. Accidents and suicide were the most common cause of death among the youngest subjects (15-24 years) and cardiovascular diseases and tumors among the oldest (> or =55 years). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Accidents and suicide, especially at a young age, are two common causes of death that might be prevented by increased awareness in medical personnel, along with better treatment and supportive measures.

Language: en