title: Causes of death among crack cocaine users.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study accompanied 131 crack-cocaine users over a 5-year period, and examined mortality patterns, as well as the causes of death among them.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients admitted to a detoxification unit in Sao Paulo between 1992 and 1994 were interviewed during two follow-up periods: 1995-1996 and 1998-1999.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 5 years, 124 patients were localized (95%). By the study endpoint (1999), 23 patients (17.6%) had died. Homicide was the most prevalent cause of death (n = 13). Almost one third of the deaths were due to the HIV infection, especially among those with a history of intravenous drug use. Less than 10% died from overdose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggests that the mortality risk among crack cocaine users is greater than that seen in the general population, homicide and AIDS being the most common causes of death among such individuals.
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Pesquisa em Alcool e Drogas, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Botucatu 394, Vila Clementino, 04038-001 São Paulo, SP, Brazil. marcelo@uniad.org.br
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sesso
authors.forename: Andréa Costa
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Ronaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laranjeira
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000401:mortality; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000401:mortality*; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D016578:Crack Cocaine