Study of 2708 heroin-related deaths in north-eastern Italy 1985-98 to establish the main causes of death

G. Quaglio; G. Talamini; A. Lechi; L. Venturini; F. Lugoboni; F. Arisi; E. Baggio; V. Balestra; D. Barbiero; G. Bellio; M. Bortolomasi; C. Bossi; R. Bressan; R. Bricolo; D. Cantiero; C. Capra; L. Carraro; F. Celeghin; R. Ceravolo; G. Cicciù; P. Civitelli; F. Corso; D. Danieli; D. Dariol; E. Dellantonio; G. Didonè; B. Durano; M. Faccini; S. Ferrari; D. Ferremi; G. Forza; M. Frezza; G. Ghirardello; M. A. Giacomin; R. Giusto; F. Guidoboni; E. Levarda; A. Lo Russo; R. Lovaste; G. Mantovani; E. Manzato; M. Mazzo; V. Mecenero; P. G. Nardi; A. Padovani; A. Pani; A. Parolin; P. Pili; S. Polli; M. Residori; A. Rovea; R. Sabbion; C. Saccardi; L. Satori; M. Scaggiante; A. Scandolari; F. Schifano; C. Smacchia; K. Sonnerer; I. Spilimbergo; C. Stimolo; P. Tito; V. Vasi; A. Vendramin; F. Viviani; M. Von Solder; F. Zuin; P. Mezzelani

doi:10.1046/j.1360-0443.2001.96811276.x

Study of 2708 heroin-related deaths in north-eastern Italy 1985-98 to establish the main causes of death

G. Quaglio, G. Talamini, A. Lechi, L. Venturini, F. Lugoboni, F. Arisi, E. Baggio, V. Balestra, D. Barbiero, G. Bellio, M. Bortolomasi, C. Bossi, R. Bressan, R. Bricolo, D. Cantiero, C. Capra, L. Carraro, F. Celeghin, R. Ceravolo, G. CicciùP. Civitelli, F. Corso, D. Danieli, D. Dariol, E. Dellantonio, G. Didonè, B. Durano, M. Faccini, S. Ferrari, D. Ferremi, G. Forza, M. Frezza, G. Ghirardello, M. A. Giacomin, R. Giusto, F. Guidoboni, E. Levarda, A. Lo Russo, R. Lovaste, G. Mantovani, E. Manzato, M. Mazzo, V. Mecenero, P. G. Nardi, A. Padovani, A. Pani, A. Parolin, P. Pili, S. Polli, M. Residori, A. Rovea, R. Sabbion, C. Saccardi, L. Satori, M. Scaggiante, A. Scandolari, F. Schifano, C. Smacchia, K. Sonnerer, I. Spilimbergo, C. Stimolo, P. Tito, V. Vasi, A. Vendramin, F. Viviani, M. Von Solder, F. Zuin, P. Mezzelani

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Abstract

Aims. To ascertain the causes of deaths among a very large cohort of heroin injecting drug users (IDUs) who, from 1985 to 1998, attended 36 Public Health Authority Centres for Drug Users (PCDUs) in north-eastern Italy. Design. Retrospective analysis of data, obtained from the Annual Register of each Centre and the Municipal Registry Office of each local health district. Setting. Thirty-six PCDUs in north-eastern Italy and Medical Service for Addictive Disorders of the University of Verona. Participants. All IDUs who had sought medical care at least once in the PCDUs during the study period. Findings. Of 2708 deaths, overdose was found to be the major cause ('37%), followed by AIDS (32.5%) and road accidents (9.4%). The percentage of deaths due to AIDS increased steadily from 2.7% in 1985 to 42.2% in 1996, and then decreased to 16.9% in 1998. Deaths due to overdose remained ahnost constant. The average age of death per year rose from 26 in the mid eighties to 34 in 1998. The mortality rate among IDUs proved much higher compared to the general population of the same age (13-fold, 95% CI, 11.3-14.6). The proportion of all deaths attributable to regular use of illegal opiates in the 15-34 age group in the general population in 1991 was 16%. HIV prevalence was nota significant factor in suicides and deaths by overdose. Conclusions. The mortality rate was 13 rimes greater than in the general population. To be female and to have dropped out of any kind of treatment proved an important risk factor for overdose. The fall in deaths from AIDS enhances the problem to prevent and treat HC V infection. Decisions in drug projects, in research and in training should be influenced by the strikingly high percentage of deaths due to drug use.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1127-1137
Number of pages	11
Journal	Addiction
Volume	96
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1360-0443.2001.96811276.x
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2001
Externally published	Yes

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10.1046/j.1360-0443.2001.96811276.x

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Quaglio, G., Talamini, G., Lechi, A., Venturini, L., Lugoboni, F., Arisi, F., Baggio, E., Balestra, V., Barbiero, D., Bellio, G., Bortolomasi, M., Bossi, C., Bressan, R., Bricolo, R., Cantiero, D., Capra, C., Carraro, L., Celeghin, F., Ceravolo, R., ... Mezzelani, P. (2001). Study of 2708 heroin-related deaths in north-eastern Italy 1985-98 to establish the main causes of death. Addiction, 96(8), 1127-1137. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1360-0443.2001.96811276.x

@article{92e95415acad4074bf2434eee3998f7e,

title = "Study of 2708 heroin-related deaths in north-eastern Italy 1985-98 to establish the main causes of death",

abstract = "Aims. To ascertain the causes of deaths among a very large cohort of heroin injecting drug users (IDUs) who, from 1985 to 1998, attended 36 Public Health Authority Centres for Drug Users (PCDUs) in north-eastern Italy. Design. Retrospective analysis of data, obtained from the Annual Register of each Centre and the Municipal Registry Office of each local health district. Setting. Thirty-six PCDUs in north-eastern Italy and Medical Service for Addictive Disorders of the University of Verona. Participants. All IDUs who had sought medical care at least once in the PCDUs during the study period. Findings. Of 2708 deaths, overdose was found to be the major cause ('37%), followed by AIDS (32.5%) and road accidents (9.4%). The percentage of deaths due to AIDS increased steadily from 2.7% in 1985 to 42.2% in 1996, and then decreased to 16.9% in 1998. Deaths due to overdose remained ahnost constant. The average age of death per year rose from 26 in the mid eighties to 34 in 1998. The mortality rate among IDUs proved much higher compared to the general population of the same age (13-fold, 95% CI, 11.3-14.6). The proportion of all deaths attributable to regular use of illegal opiates in the 15-34 age group in the general population in 1991 was 16%. HIV prevalence was nota significant factor in suicides and deaths by overdose. Conclusions. The mortality rate was 13 rimes greater than in the general population. To be female and to have dropped out of any kind of treatment proved an important risk factor for overdose. The fall in deaths from AIDS enhances the problem to prevent and treat HC V infection. Decisions in drug projects, in research and in training should be influenced by the strikingly high percentage of deaths due to drug use.",

author = "G. Quaglio and G. Talamini and A. Lechi and L. Venturini and F. Lugoboni and F. Arisi and E. Baggio and V. Balestra and D. Barbiero and G. Bellio and M. Bortolomasi and C. Bossi and R. Bressan and R. Bricolo and D. Cantiero and C. Capra and L. Carraro and F. Celeghin and R. Ceravolo and G. Cicci{\`u} and P. Civitelli and F. Corso and D. Danieli and D. Dariol and E. Dellantonio and G. Didon{\`e} and B. Durano and M. Faccini and S. Ferrari and D. Ferremi and G. Forza and M. Frezza and G. Ghirardello and Giacomin, {M. A.} and R. Giusto and F. Guidoboni and E. Levarda and {Lo Russo}, A. and R. Lovaste and G. Mantovani and E. Manzato and M. Mazzo and V. Mecenero and Nardi, {P. G.} and A. Padovani and A. Pani and A. Parolin and P. Pili and S. Polli and M. Residori and A. Rovea and R. Sabbion and C. Saccardi and L. Satori and M. Scaggiante and A. Scandolari and F. Schifano and C. Smacchia and K. Sonnerer and I. Spilimbergo and C. Stimolo and P. Tito and V. Vasi and A. Vendramin and F. Viviani and {Von Solder}, M. and F. Zuin and P. Mezzelani",

year = "2001",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1046/j.1360-0443.2001.96811276.x",

language = "English",

volume = "96",

pages = "1127--1137",

journal = "Addiction",

issn = "0965-2140",

publisher = "Wiley",

number = "8",

}

Quaglio, G, Talamini, G, Lechi, A, Venturini, L, Lugoboni, F, Arisi, F, Baggio, E, Balestra, V, Barbiero, D, Bellio, G, Bortolomasi, M, Bossi, C, Bressan, R, Bricolo, R, Cantiero, D, Capra, C, Carraro, L, Celeghin, F, Ceravolo, R, Cicciù, G, Civitelli, P, Corso, F, Danieli, D, Dariol, D, Dellantonio, E, Didonè, G, Durano, B, Faccini, M, Ferrari, S, Ferremi, D, Forza, G, Frezza, M, Ghirardello, G, Giacomin, MA, Giusto, R, Guidoboni, F, Levarda, E, Lo Russo, A, Lovaste, R, Mantovani, G, Manzato, E, Mazzo, M, Mecenero, V, Nardi, PG, Padovani, A, Pani, A, Parolin, A, Pili, P, Polli, S, Residori, M, Rovea, A, Sabbion, R, Saccardi, C, Satori, L, Scaggiante, M, Scandolari, A, Schifano, F, Smacchia, C, Sonnerer, K, Spilimbergo, I, Stimolo, C, Tito, P, Vasi, V, Vendramin, A, Viviani, F, Von Solder, M, Zuin, F & Mezzelani, P 2001, 'Study of 2708 heroin-related deaths in north-eastern Italy 1985-98 to establish the main causes of death', Addiction, vol. 96, no. 8, pp. 1127-1137. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1360-0443.2001.96811276.x

TY - JOUR

T1 - Study of 2708 heroin-related deaths in north-eastern Italy 1985-98 to establish the main causes of death

AU - Quaglio, G.

AU - Talamini, G.

AU - Lechi, A.

AU - Venturini, L.

AU - Lugoboni, F.

AU - Arisi, F.

AU - Baggio, E.

AU - Balestra, V.

AU - Barbiero, D.

AU - Bellio, G.

AU - Bortolomasi, M.

AU - Bossi, C.

AU - Bressan, R.

AU - Bricolo, R.

AU - Cantiero, D.

AU - Capra, C.

AU - Carraro, L.

AU - Celeghin, F.

AU - Ceravolo, R.

AU - Cicciù, G.

AU - Civitelli, P.

AU - Corso, F.

AU - Danieli, D.

AU - Dariol, D.

AU - Dellantonio, E.

AU - Didonè, G.

AU - Durano, B.

AU - Faccini, M.

AU - Ferrari, S.

AU - Ferremi, D.

AU - Forza, G.

AU - Frezza, M.

AU - Ghirardello, G.

AU - Giacomin, M. A.

AU - Giusto, R.

AU - Guidoboni, F.

AU - Levarda, E.

AU - Lo Russo, A.

AU - Lovaste, R.

AU - Mantovani, G.

AU - Manzato, E.

AU - Mazzo, M.

AU - Mecenero, V.

AU - Nardi, P. G.

AU - Padovani, A.

AU - Pani, A.

AU - Parolin, A.

AU - Pili, P.

AU - Polli, S.

AU - Residori, M.

AU - Rovea, A.

AU - Sabbion, R.

AU - Saccardi, C.

AU - Satori, L.

AU - Scaggiante, M.

AU - Scandolari, A.

AU - Schifano, F.

AU - Smacchia, C.

AU - Sonnerer, K.

AU - Spilimbergo, I.

AU - Stimolo, C.

AU - Tito, P.

AU - Vasi, V.

AU - Vendramin, A.

AU - Viviani, F.

AU - Von Solder, M.

AU - Zuin, F.

AU - Mezzelani, P.

PY - 2001/1/1

Y1 - 2001/1/1

N2 - Aims. To ascertain the causes of deaths among a very large cohort of heroin injecting drug users (IDUs) who, from 1985 to 1998, attended 36 Public Health Authority Centres for Drug Users (PCDUs) in north-eastern Italy. Design. Retrospective analysis of data, obtained from the Annual Register of each Centre and the Municipal Registry Office of each local health district. Setting. Thirty-six PCDUs in north-eastern Italy and Medical Service for Addictive Disorders of the University of Verona. Participants. All IDUs who had sought medical care at least once in the PCDUs during the study period. Findings. Of 2708 deaths, overdose was found to be the major cause ('37%), followed by AIDS (32.5%) and road accidents (9.4%). The percentage of deaths due to AIDS increased steadily from 2.7% in 1985 to 42.2% in 1996, and then decreased to 16.9% in 1998. Deaths due to overdose remained ahnost constant. The average age of death per year rose from 26 in the mid eighties to 34 in 1998. The mortality rate among IDUs proved much higher compared to the general population of the same age (13-fold, 95% CI, 11.3-14.6). The proportion of all deaths attributable to regular use of illegal opiates in the 15-34 age group in the general population in 1991 was 16%. HIV prevalence was nota significant factor in suicides and deaths by overdose. Conclusions. The mortality rate was 13 rimes greater than in the general population. To be female and to have dropped out of any kind of treatment proved an important risk factor for overdose. The fall in deaths from AIDS enhances the problem to prevent and treat HC V infection. Decisions in drug projects, in research and in training should be influenced by the strikingly high percentage of deaths due to drug use.

AB - Aims. To ascertain the causes of deaths among a very large cohort of heroin injecting drug users (IDUs) who, from 1985 to 1998, attended 36 Public Health Authority Centres for Drug Users (PCDUs) in north-eastern Italy. Design. Retrospective analysis of data, obtained from the Annual Register of each Centre and the Municipal Registry Office of each local health district. Setting. Thirty-six PCDUs in north-eastern Italy and Medical Service for Addictive Disorders of the University of Verona. Participants. All IDUs who had sought medical care at least once in the PCDUs during the study period. Findings. Of 2708 deaths, overdose was found to be the major cause ('37%), followed by AIDS (32.5%) and road accidents (9.4%). The percentage of deaths due to AIDS increased steadily from 2.7% in 1985 to 42.2% in 1996, and then decreased to 16.9% in 1998. Deaths due to overdose remained ahnost constant. The average age of death per year rose from 26 in the mid eighties to 34 in 1998. The mortality rate among IDUs proved much higher compared to the general population of the same age (13-fold, 95% CI, 11.3-14.6). The proportion of all deaths attributable to regular use of illegal opiates in the 15-34 age group in the general population in 1991 was 16%. HIV prevalence was nota significant factor in suicides and deaths by overdose. Conclusions. The mortality rate was 13 rimes greater than in the general population. To be female and to have dropped out of any kind of treatment proved an important risk factor for overdose. The fall in deaths from AIDS enhances the problem to prevent and treat HC V infection. Decisions in drug projects, in research and in training should be influenced by the strikingly high percentage of deaths due to drug use.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034908886&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1046/j.1360-0443.2001.96811276.x

DO - 10.1046/j.1360-0443.2001.96811276.x

M3 - Article

C2 - 11487419

AN - SCOPUS:0034908886

SN - 0965-2140

VL - 96

SP - 1127

EP - 1137

JO - Addiction

JF - Addiction

IS - 8

ER -

Study of 2708 heroin-related deaths in north-eastern Italy 1985-98 to establish the main causes of death

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