Natural history of parenteral drug addicts treated in a general hospital

Abstract

The progress of 298 heroin addicts treated for different reasons in a general hospital from 1984 to 1987 is followed, in order to know the remission degree of parenteral drug use and mortality rates of heroin abusers, after being treated for organic diseases or undergoing quick detoxification treatment. After an average of 25 months since their first visit or admission, information was obtained in 90% of the cases, and of these, it was confirmed that 4% (11/266) had died and that 6% (15/255) were in prison. Of the remainder, reliable information was obtained from 66% (158/240), of whom 40% were no longer endovenous drug users, while 54% were still addicted to parenteral drugs. The results hsowed a higher percentage of remission in patients that had been admitted for organic diseases (39/65; 60%) than in those that had been treated for detoxification (30/93; 35%) (p < 0.05).