Richard Saitz|Jessie M. Gaeta|Debbie M. Cheng|Jessica Richardson|Mary Jo Larson|Jeffrey H. Samet
Risk of Mortality during Four Years after Substance Detoxification in Urban Adults
objective analysis assess mortality rate risk factors adults substance dependence receiving primary medical care pc date cause death identified using national death index data death certificates 470 adults without pc period almost 4 years detailed clinical assessment detoxification factors associated risk mortality determined using stepwise cox proportional hazards models subjects 76 male 47 homeless 47 chronic medical illness 40 reported alcohol 27 heroin 33 cocaine substance choice median age 35 period 4 years 27 6 subjects died median age death 39 causes included poisoning substance 409 deaths trauma 13 cardiovascular disease 136 exposure cold 91 age adjusted mortality rate 44 times general population city among individuals without pc detoxification unit risk factors associated death following drug choice heroin hazard ratio hr 69 95 confidence interval ci 16311 alcohol hr 37 95 ci 079169 compared cocaine past suicide attempt hr 21 95 ci 09645 persistent homelessness hr 24 95 ci 1153 history chronic medical illness hr 21 95 ci 09347 receipt primary care significantly associated death hr 085 95 ci 03421 risk mortality high patients addictions risk factors identifiable patients seek help health care system ie detoxification may help identify highest risk interventions could targeted