R Laranjeira1, R Rassi, J Dunn, M Fernandes, S Mitsuhiro. 1. UNIAD, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil. laranjeira@psiquiatria.epm.br
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the 2-year outcome of the first 131 crack cocaine users who had been admitted for a period of inpatient treatment. DESIGN: Follow-up study of consecutive patients admitted between 1992 and 1994. SETTING: Inpatient detoxification unit of a public general hospital in São Paulo City, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: 131 consecutive crack cocaine users. MEASURES: Reported crack use during last 12 months, incarceration and death. FINDINGS: After 2 years, 50 patients reported crack use in the last 12 months, 29 said that they had not used it during this period, 9 were in prison, 13 had died, 2 had disappeared and no information was available on 28. CONCLUSIONS: Crack cocaine use seems to be associated with a high mortality rate and criminal involvement but about one-third of patients give up using the drug within 2 years of inpatient treatment.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the 2-year outcome of the first 131 crackcocaine users who had been admitted for a period of inpatient treatment. DESIGN: Follow-up study of consecutive patients admitted between 1992 and 1994. SETTING: Inpatient detoxification unit of a public general hospital in São Paulo City, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: 131 consecutive crackcocaine users. MEASURES: Reported crack use during last 12 months, incarceration and death. FINDINGS: After 2 years, 50 patients reported crack use in the last 12 months, 29 said that they had not used it during this period, 9 were in prison, 13 had died, 2 had disappeared and no information was available on 28. CONCLUSIONS:Crackcocaine use seems to be associated with a high mortality rate and criminal involvement but about one-third of patients give up using the drug within 2 years of inpatient treatment.