Drug-related mortality in Denmark 1970-93

We analysed drug-related mortality in Denmark with respect to secular trend s, gender, and regional variations, for the period 1970 - 93, for all death s from poisoning and among drug addicts. The study was based on the Registe r of Causes of Death in Denmark and included 6,229 drug-related deaths, def ined by specific combinations of manner of death, underlying cause of death , and contributory cause of death. The main outcome measure. is age-specifi c mortality rate. A total of 63% of the drug-related deaths were registered as unnatural deaths. During the period studied, mortality increased for me n in the 25 - 49 year age group and for women in all age groups over 25 yea rs of age. For both men and women, the youngest birth cohorts from the mid- 1950s and 1960s suffered much higher mortality than those born before 1950; however, the three youngest birth cohorts had almost the same mortality. D uring the entire period, mortality in the capital, Copenhagen, was much hig her than in the provinces, but in the last years, a more favourable trend h as been seen in Copenhagen.