Opioids: Illicit use tied to higher risk of death from these causes

CNN — People using illicit opioids are not only at an increased risk of a drug-related death, but a new study finds they have an elevated risk of dying from noncommunicable diseases, infectious diseases, suicide and unintentional injuries. “People might be surprised that although overdose was the most common cause of death, it’s far from the only cause of death that people using opioids outside a prescription experience at excessive rates,” said Sarah Larney, lead author of the study and a senior research fellow at the University of New South Wales’ National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre in Australia. “It’s really clear that although overdose prevention is critical, we also need to look at the range of poor outcomes that people are experiencing, and work to reduce other causes of excess mortality such as suicide, chronic diseases and infectious diseases.” The study involved reviewing and analyzing data on people across 28 countries who used heroin, other illicitly manufactured opioids and pharmaceutical opioids outside the bounds of a medical prescription. Yet overall while poisoning- or substance-related deaths were the most common cause among people who used opioids illicitly, accounting for 31.5% of deaths, the researchers found that noncommunicable diseases accounted for 24.1%; infectious diseases accounted for 19.7%; and trauma for 18.1%, among other causes. “Making sure people have access to essential medicines to treat HIV and hepatitis C; encouraging smoking cessation through access to nicotine replacement therapies; and ensuring access to nutritious food and safe shelter would all go towards reducing the death toll in this population.” Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team.