@article{ref1,
title="Mortality of intravenous drug users in Rome: a cohort study",
journal="American journal of public health",
year="1991",
author="Perucci, C. A. and Davoli, M. and Rapiti, E. and Abeni, D. D. and Forastiere, F.",
volume="81",
number="10",
pages="1307-1310",
abstract="A historical cohort study was carried out in Rome to examine overall and cause-specific mortality among intravenous drug users (IVDUs). A total of 4200 IVDUs (3411 men and 789 women) enrolled in methadone treatment centers between 1980 and 1988 were studied. There were 239 deaths during the follow-up period. The overall SMR was 10.10 in the entire cohort (95% confidence interval, 8.86-11.47), 9.30 in males and 18.07 in females. A large excess of mortality in both sexes was found for infectious, circulatory, respiratory, and digestive diseases as well as for violence, overdose, AIDS, and unknown or ill-defined causes. Tumors and suicide were excessive only in males. Deaths due to drug overdose, violence or trauma, and cirrhosis accounted for 63.6%, AIDS for 7.1%, endocarditis and other bacterial infections for 7.1%, and neoplasms for 3.8% of total mortality. These findings document serious health consequences of drug abuse in Italy.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0090-0036",
doi="10.2105/ajph.81.10.1307",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/ajph.81.10.1307"
}