Year: 2009 Source: BMC Psychiatry, v.9, article no.48, (August 2009), p.1-7 SIEC No: 20090760

This study examined the relationship between multi-drug substance use & natural & unnatural death. All consecutive, autopsied patients who had been in contact with the Addiction Centre in Malmo University Hospital from 1993-1997 were investigated. Drug abuse was investigated blindly in the case records & related to the cause of death in 387 subjects. Every substance apart from alcohol used previously in life added to the risk of unnatural death in a linear way. There were independent increased risks of fatal heroin overdoses or undetermined suicide. Death by suicide & violent death were unrelated to additional abuse. (43 refs.)