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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2008, 10, 4 (pages: 29 - 32)

Unintentional and Intentional Injuries Due to Opiate Abuse

Stenbacka M.

Summary: Alcohol and drug abuse runs a generally higher risk of fatal and non-fatal injury risk. But the overall injury pattern in relation to opiate abuse is not well known. Aim. The aim of the study is to analyse intentional and unintentional injuries –in the forms of accidents and suicides, as reported in the case histories of opiate abusers compared to the general population in Stockholm. Method: The analyses are based on a cohort of 1700 drug abusers identified in 1967 and followed until 2003 and 2005 with respect to causes of death, and inpatient care stays. Results: The results show that 817 (48%) subjects took opiate as their primary drug and nearly one third of these had died due to an intentional or an unintentional injury. Nearly 60 percent of the opiate abusers had been treated, at least once, in hospital for an injury. On average, the total cohort had been treated in hospital for an injury 1.6 times (range, 0-40 times), while the opiate abusers who had been treated in hospital for a drug-related diagnosis at least once had, on average, also been treated for an injury diagnosis 2.8 times (0-20 times) during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Societal support and injury prevention need to be improved in this vulnerable group.