A PERSISTENT RISE IN MORTALITY AMONG INJECTION-DRUG USERS IN ROME, 1980 THROUGH 1992

Objectives. The purpose of the study was to analyze overall and cause- specific mortality among injection drug users in Rome. Methods. A coho rt of 4200 injection drug users was enrolled in drug. treatment center s from 1980 through 1988 and followed up until December 1992. Results. The age-adjusted mortality rate from all causes increased from 7.8/10 00 person-years in 1985/86 to 27.7/1000 in 1991/92. The rise was mainl y attributable to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), but morta lity from overdose and other causes increased as well. The cumulative risk of death by the age of 40 was 29.3%. Conclusions. The impact of A IDS deaths appears to be additional to a persistent increase of mortal ity for all other causes.