[Estimating mortality attributed to illegal drug use in Spain].
OBJECTIVE
The impact of illegal drug consumption on general mortality in Spain is unknown. We aimed to quantify this impact for the period 1994-2000.


METHODS
Number of directly drug-related deaths from HIV among injecting drug users as well as others -- both taken from the General Mortality Register (GMR). Next, corrections were made, multiplying the aforementioned figures by the percentage of injecting drug users in the AIDS register in the first case, and by the underestimation index in the second. This index was calculated comparing the GMR with the specific drug-related register in certain areas.


RESULTS
In Spain, mortality from illegal drug use fell from 22.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, aged 15-49 years (16.4% of all deaths) in 1996 to 8.9/100,000 in 2000 (7.8% of all deaths), meaning a 58% decrease in general mortality. In 2000, drug-related deaths surpassed AIDS mortality in the group of men aged 15-49 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Illegal drug use continues to be an important cause of death among young people in Spain. Overdose is the most likely primary cause of death in drug consumers.
Brugal
M Teresa
MT
Agencia de Salud Pública de Barcelona, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. tbrugal@aspb.es
Barrio
Gregorio
G
Royuela
Luis
L
Bravo
María J
MJ
de la Fuente
Luis
L
Regidor
Enrique
E
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000401:mortality; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D012042:Registries; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000401:mortality*