Estimating the trend of the epidemic of drug use in Italy, 1985-89. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Estimating the trend of the epidemic of drug use in Italy, 1985-89.

Br J Addict. 1992 Dec;87(12):1643-8. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/93144901
Rezza G; Dorrucci M; Filibeck U; Serafin I; SE.CE.DAS (Epidemiology Unit and Drug Unit), Ministero della; Sanita, Rome, Italy.

Abstract: We used data from different sources to estimate the extent and the trend of the epidemic of drug use in Italy in the second half of the '80s. During the study period, the number of subjects attending drug dependency units increased from 13,905 to 61,689. Mortality and morbidity indicators showed an increase in both drug related deaths (mainly from overdose) and AIDS cases reported in injecting drug users, particularly among older subjects. However, the number of young adults detected as drug users at the army recruitment remained virtually stable from 1986 on. These findings suggest that both demand and availability of treatment increased through the years 1985-89, and that clinical consequences of drug use related behaviour have become an important public health priority.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/TRANSMISSION Adolescence Adult Delivery of Health Care/ORGANIZATION & ADMIN Diacetylmorphine/ADVERSE EFFECTS Female Health Promotion Human Italy/EPIDEMIOLOGY Male Methadone/THERAPEUTIC USE Middle Age Overdose *Public Health Questionnaires Substance Abuse/DRUG THERAPY/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*MORTALITY Support, Non-U.S. Gov't JOURNAL ARTICLE
930530
M9350947

Copyright © 1993 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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