Over the past 40 years the rate of illicit drug use worldwide has risen dramatically, and with it the number of deaths reported among drug-using populations. What are the clinical, ethical and psychopathological implications of these deaths? In this book, Shane Darke and his team provide the first full, synthetic review of the epidemiology, causes, prevalence, demography, and associated risk factors of illicit-drug-related mortality. In addition, they examine and evaluate interventions to reduce these deaths. The major causes of death among illicit drug users are overdose, disease, suicide and trauma. Each is independently examined. This is an important book for all clinicians and policy-makers involved in issues relating to illicit drug use.

Table of Contents

1. Why illicit drug-related deaths matter; 2. The global epidemiology of illicit drug use; 3. Mortality amongst illicit drug users; 4. Mortality and drug overdose; 5. Illicit drug use and disease; 6. Mortality and suicide; 7. Mortality and trauma; 8. Reducing drug-related mortality; 9. Summary and conclusions.

About the Author

Shane Darke is an Associate Professor at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales. Louisa Degenhardt is a Senior Lecturer at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales. Richard Mattick is Professor and Director of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales.

Reviews

'Mortality amongst Illicit Drug Users is a welcome sight. Shane Darke, Louisa Degenhardt and Richard Mattick carefully synthesise the mass of literature on drug-related mortality, delineate its key domains, and provide a rich bibliography for future investigators ... This book's documentation of drug-related mortality - so much of it preventable with existing methods readily available to us - is a testament to the poverty of current drug policies and bears stark witness to the price paid for these failures.' Perspectives