[Survival rate of drug addicts. Longitudinal analysis of 530 outpatient clients for the admissions years 1969 to 1977].

The mortality amongst 530 out-patient drug-addicts, dependent mainly on opiates and being first registered between 1969 and 1977, was analysed. This grand total (27% females, median age 19 years, 73% males, median age 20 years) was subdivided into three groups with variable observation follow-up according to the time-shift of consumed main drugs. Until the demarcation day 31 December 1982 81 clients (15%) died. Mortality rates were determined according to the death cases for the three groups. In comparison with the mortality of the age-matched whole population male heroin addicts had a twelve-fold and females a 29-fold death rate. Survival curves of all three groups showed a rather linear course indicating a surprisingly long period of danger. For optimisation of advice methods and for treatment of drug-addicts long-term analyses of larger unselected groups involving further parameters are required.