Mortality rate among crack/cocaine-dependent patients: a 12-year prospective cohort study conducted in Brazil.

Abstract

Mortality is a significant outcome among Brazilian crack/cocaine-dependent patients yet not well understood and is under investigated. This study examined a range of mortality indicators within a cohort of 131 crack/cocaine-dependent patients admitted into treatment and meeting criteria for dependence of crack (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition). After 12 years of treatment discharge, 107 individuals were reassessed and 27 death cases were confirmed by official records, wherein in its majority were caused by homicide (n = 16). In this group, survival rate was 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.74-0.81) and previous history of IV cocaine use was identified as a predictor of mortality (2.5, 95% CI = 1.08-5.79). High mortality rates among Brazilian crack/cocaine-dependent patients, exposure to violence, and HIV/AIDS were topics discussed in this study. This research highlights the importance of ongoing programs to manage crack/cocaine use along with other treatment features within this population.

• Authors: Andréa C Dias, Marcelo R Araújo, John Dunn, Ricardo C Sesso, Viviane de Castro, Ronaldo Laranjeira
• Journal: Journal of substance abuse treatment (J Subst Abuse Treat) Vol. 41 Issue 3 Pg. 273-8 (Oct 2011) ISSN: 1873-6483 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21550198 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Central Nervous System Stimulants
• Crack Cocaine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Brazil (epidemiology)
• Central Nervous System Stimulants
• Cocaine-Related Disorders (diagnosis, epidemiology, mortality, therapy)
• Cohort Studies
• Crack Cocaine
• Female
• Humans
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Prospective Studies
• Residential Treatment
• Survival Analysis
• Violence (psychology)
• Young Adult