Mortality in Patients with Substance Abuse: A Follow-up in Stockholm County, 1973-1984

Abstract

A group of patients (N = 1630) hospitalized in Stockholm County with a diagnosis of substance abuse during 1971-1972 were followed through 1984 as regards mortality: 446 (296 males and 150 females) patients died. The excess mortality in the cohort was 5.3 (males 5.8, females 4.6) compared to the general population in Stockholm County. The highest mortality was found in opiate users, with an excess mortality of 18.3. Fifty-one percent of the causes of death belonged to ICD-8 chapter 17, injury and poisoning, and of these, 69% (155 patients) were definite or probable suicides. Since HIV entered the Stockholm drug addict population by the end of this follow-up, the excess mortality reported here can be even higher in the years to come. To follow and monitor the mortality among patients with substance abuse is an important aspect in the evaluation of programs for prevention and treatment.

Twenty-five year mortality of US servicemen deployed in Vietnam: predictive utility of early drug use

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Causes of death among crack cocaine users

“…Most follow-up studies that have examined mortality among drug users have involved heroin users, 18,35,40-51 subjects using a broad range of substances, [52][53][54][55] or individuals being treated with prescription drugs. [56][57] In all of those studies, the highest mortality rate due to homicide found was 5% of the deaths reported.…”

Voucher‐based Contingent Reinforcement of Smoking Abstinence Among Methadone‐maintained Patients: A Pilot Study

“…For example, compared to 25% in the general U.S. adult population, prevalence of current smoking among MM patients is 84% to 94% (Clemmey, Brooner, Chutuape, Kidorf, & Stitzer, 1997;Nahvi, Richter, Li, Modali, & Arnsten, 2006;Richter, Gibson, Ahulwalia, & Schmelzle, 2001). As is the case in the general population, smoking in MM patients is associated with increased morbidity and mortality (Engstrom, Adamsson, Allebeck, & Rydberg, 1991;Hser, McCarthy, & Anglin, 1994). The mortality rate of opioid-dependent smokers, for example, is estimated to be four times greater than that of opioid-dependent nonsmokers (Hser et al).…”