Sanna Rönkä1, Karoliina Karjalainen2, Pekka Martikainen3, Pia Mäkelä2. 1. Department of Social Research, PO Box 18, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland; Finnish Foundation for Alcohol Studies, PO Box 30, FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: sanna.ronka@helsinki.fi. 2. National Institute for Health and Welfare, PO Box 30, FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland. 3. Population Research Unit, Department of Social Research, PO Box 18, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland; Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Konrad-Zuse-Strasse 1 DE-18057 Rostock, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We investigated the association between social determinants and a broad selection of drug-related deaths in a general population. METHODS: We conducted a follow-up of an 11% random sample of working-age Finnish residents for 1996-2007 linked with an oversampling of deaths and population registration data on social characteristics. We defined total drug-related deaths as those from psychoactive substance use disorders and drug-induced poisonings (drug-induced deaths) as well as drug-related accidents, homicides, illnesses, and suicides. RESULTS: The number of drug-related deaths was three times that of drug-induced deaths. We found the highest hazard ratios (HRs) for total drug-related mortality for long-term unemployment (4.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.3-5.6), short-term unemployment (3.9; 95% CI, 3.5-4.4), and retirement (5.8; 95% CI, 5.1-6.8). The HRs were highest for mortality related to psychoactive substance use disorders and lowest for mortality related to drug-related suicides. The differences were large for both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Drug-related mortality was associated with social disadvantage; however, the strength of the association varied by drug-related cause of death. Primary and secondary prevention of drug use should particularly target disadvantaged groups.
BACKGROUND: We investigated the association between social determinants and a broad selection of drug-related deaths in a general population. METHODS: We conducted a follow-up of an 11% random sample of working-age Finnish residents for 1996-2007 linked with an oversampling of deaths and population registration data on social characteristics. We defined total drug-related deaths as those from psychoactive substance use disorders and drug-induced poisonings (drug-induced deaths) as well as drug-related accidents, homicides, illnesses, and suicides. RESULTS: The number of drug-related deaths was three times that of drug-induced deaths. We found the highest hazard ratios (HRs) for total drug-related mortality for long-term unemployment (4.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.3-5.6), short-term unemployment (3.9; 95% CI, 3.5-4.4), and retirement (5.8; 95% CI, 5.1-6.8). The HRs were highest for mortality related to psychoactive substance use disorders and lowest for mortality related to drug-related suicides. The differences were large for both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Drug-related mortality was associated with social disadvantage; however, the strength of the association varied by drug-related cause of death. Primary and secondary prevention of drug use should particularly target disadvantaged groups.
Authors: Sabina Dang; Justin R Shinn; Benjamin R Campbell; Gaelyn Garrett; Christopher Wootten; Alexander Gelbard Journal: Laryngoscope Date: 2019-07-29 Impact factor: 3.325
Authors: Maarit K Koivisto; Jouko Miettunen; Jonna Levola; Antti Mustonen; Anni-Emilia Alakokkare; Caroline L Salom; Solja Niemelä Journal: Eur J Public Health Date: 2022-10-03 Impact factor: 4.424