TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2009//
TI  - Number of addictive substances used related to increased risk for unnatural death: a combined medico-legal and case-Record Study
JO  - BMC psychiatry
A1  - Bradvik, Louise
A1  - Berglund, Mats
A1  - Frank, Andrew
A1  - Lindgren, Anna
A1  - Lowenhielm, P.
SP  - 48
EP  - 48
VL  - 9
IS  - 1
N2  - BACKGROUND: Substance use disorders have repeatedly been found to lead to premature death, i.e. drug-related death by disease, fatal intoxications, or trauma (accidents, suicide, undetermined suicide, and homicide). The present study examined the relationship between multi-drug substance use and natural and unnatural death. METHODS: All consecutive, autopsied patients who had been in contact with the Addiction Centre in Malmo University Hospital from 1993 to 1997 inclusive were investigated. Drug abuse was investigated blindly in the case records and related to the cause of death in 387 subjects. RESULTS: Every substance apart from alcohol used previously in life added to the risk of unnatural death in a linear way. There were independent increased risks of fatal heroin overdoses or undetermined suicide. Death by suicide and violent death were unrelated to additional abuse. CONCLUSIONS: The number of drugs used was related to an increased risk of unnatural death by undetermined suicide (mainly fatal intoxications) and heroin overdose.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1471-244X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-9-48
ID  - ref1
ER  -