Drug abuse-associated mortality across the lifespan: a population-based longitudinal cohort and co-relative analysis

ConclusionThe association between registry-ascertained DA and premature mortality is very strong and results from both non-medical and medical causes. This excess mortality arises both indirectly —from characteristics of drug-abusing persons—and directly from the effects of DA. Excess mortality of opiate abuse was substantially higher than that observed for all other drug classes. These results have implications for interventions seeking to reduce the large burden of DA-associated premat ure mortality.
Source: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research