Crack cocaine--a two-year follow-up of treated patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the 2-year outcome of the first 131 crack cocaine users who had been admitted for a period of inpatient treatment.


METHODS
Follow-up study of consecutive patients admitted between 1992 and 1994.


METHODS
Inpatient detoxification unit of a public general hospital in São Paulo City, Brazil.


METHODS
131 consecutive crack cocaine users.


METHODS
Reported crack use during last 12 months, incarceration and death.


RESULTS
After 2 years, 50 patients reported crack use in the last 12 months, 29 said that they had not used it during this period, 9 were in prison, 13 had died, 2 had disappeared and no information was available on 28.


CONCLUSIONS
Crack cocaine use seems to be associated with a high mortality rate and criminal involvement but about one-third of patients give up using the drug within 2 years of inpatient treatment.
Laranjeira
R
R
UNIAD, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil. laranjeira@psiquiatria.epm.br
Rassi
R
R
Dunn
J
J
Fernandes
M
M
Mitsuhiro
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016578:Crack Cocaine