DEATH AND SURVIVAL IN A COHORT OF HEROIN-ADDICTS FROM LONDON CLINICS - A 22-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

Data are presented on the 43 people who died over a 22-year follow-up period of a cohort of 128 heroin addicts drawn in 1969 from the newly opened London clinics. The main causes of death were drug-related, wit h 18 deaths specifically determined as due to overdose, of which the g reat majority were among people being prescribed opiates at the time. The mortality rate was a mean of 1.84% annually, and the excess mortal ity ratio was 11. 9. This excess was highest at the beginning and vari ed over the period of study, appearing higher at the opening of the cl inics and again in the mid-1980s. No sex differences in mortality rate s were demonstrated but the excess mortality was concentrated at young er ages. No prediction of the 85 survivors could be made on the basis of length of heroin use prior to study intake, nor on age at intake.