Citation

Jeanmonod R, Fryc O. Schweiz. Med. Wochenschr. 1990; 120(44): 1643-1648.

Vernacular Title

Toxicomanie: la mort au-dela du risque. Analyse des causes de deces chez le

Affiliation

Institut universitaire de médecine légale, Genève.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, EMH Swiss Medical Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2251480

Abstract

Violent deaths are of considerable importance among young adults, since they account for half the deaths in this age group (average age 26.4 years). Suicide and accidents (both categories including drug overdoses) are the most frequent categories of deaths from non-natural causes, while in the USA deaths by homicide are also of considerable importance. Current repressive policies have not brought the problem of drug addiction under control. Each year deaths by overdose among drug abusers occur. Nevertheless, 40% of deaths among drug addicts are from other causes, principally accidents and suicides. In the near future, AIDS may well account for the majority of deaths among drug addicts, thus adding to the mortality from overdose, both accidental and suicidal. Has the time come to reconsider the problem of drug abuse and to find radical solutions which would previously have been unthinkable?

Language: fr