A persistent rise in mortality among injection drug users in Rome, 1980 through 1992.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to analyze overall and cause-specific mortality among injection drug users in Rome.
Methods: A cohort of 4200 injection drug users was enrolled in drug treatment centers from 1980 through 1988 and followed up until December 1992.
Results: The age-adjusted mortality rate from all causes increased from 7.8/1000 person-years in 1985/86 to 27.7/1000 in 1991/92. The rise was mainly attributable to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), but mortality from overdose and other causes increased as well. The cumulative risk of death by the age of 40 was 29.3%.
Conclusions: The impact of AIDS deaths appears to be additional to a persistent increase of mortality for all other causes.