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EDITOR- Coffey et al. (1) recently reported high mortality ratios in
young offenders as overall standarised mortality ratios adjusted for age
were reported to be 9.4 for men and 41.3 for women. Deaths from drug
related causes predominated for both sexes. They concluded that the
finding that death rates in young offenders exceeded those in groups with
even higher rates of psychiatric and behavioural disorders indicates, that
social disadvantage and marginalisation of this group may have played
additional an part in many deaths. They suggest that social policies for
young offenders should address both the prevalent drug and mental health
problems as well as social disadvantage and marginalisation of this
group.
We have recently conducted a similar study in 2002 (2) among another
offender group of somewhat older age in Norway. Apprehended impaired
drivers 20-39 years old who provided blood samples positive for alcohol
(n=2531) or drugs other than alcohol (n=918) constituting the total
national samples of these two driver categories during one year were
followed-up with respect to mortality for a 7.5 –years period subsequent
to apprehension. The studied cohort had considerable excess mortality
when compared with the general population of Norway. In comparison with
the age matched general population the mortality rate was four times
higher for male drunken drivers. The excess mortality was even more
pronounced for drugged drivers, 18 times higher for men and 40 times
higher for women. The majority of deaths resulted from drug
poisoning/overdoses, accidents and suicides.
The result from our study demonstrated that the mortality among drunken
and drugged relatively young drivers was comparable to, and in fact often
higher than among alcohol and drug abusers.
Both our study (2) and the study of Coffey et al (1) indicated that
offenders, both adolescents or young adults, are marked by high risk of
premature deaths. Studies on socio-economic and education status have
generally found that young offenders are overrepresented in the lower
strata and unemployed categories. Both studies also show especially high
premature death for female offenders. Taken together the studies call for
the development of new strategies with respect to the follow-up of young
offenders, specially young women in countries around the world to prevent
a major loss of “live years”. The effectiveness of such new strategies
could be evaluated in future studies of similar types.
1. Coffey C, Veit F, Wolfe R, Cini E, Patton GC. Mortality in young
offenders: retrospective cohort study. BMJ 2003, 326: 1064-1067. (17 May.)
2. Skurtveit S, Christophersen AS, Grung M, Mørland J. Increased mortality
among previously apprehended drunken anad drugged drivers. Drug Alcohol
Depend. 2002, 68:143-150.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests:
No competing interests
06 June 2003
Jørg Mørland
director, professor
Svetlana Skurtveit, Asbjørg Christophersen and Merete Grung
Division of Forensic Toxicology and Drug Abuse, Norwegian Insitute of Public Health
Mortality in young offenders
EDITOR- Coffey et al. (1) recently reported high mortality ratios in
young offenders as overall standarised mortality ratios adjusted for age
were reported to be 9.4 for men and 41.3 for women. Deaths from drug
related causes predominated for both sexes. They concluded that the
finding that death rates in young offenders exceeded those in groups with
even higher rates of psychiatric and behavioural disorders indicates, that
social disadvantage and marginalisation of this group may have played
additional an part in many deaths. They suggest that social policies for
young offenders should address both the prevalent drug and mental health
problems as well as social disadvantage and marginalisation of this
group.
We have recently conducted a similar study in 2002 (2) among another
offender group of somewhat older age in Norway. Apprehended impaired
drivers 20-39 years old who provided blood samples positive for alcohol
(n=2531) or drugs other than alcohol (n=918) constituting the total
national samples of these two driver categories during one year were
followed-up with respect to mortality for a 7.5 –years period subsequent
to apprehension. The studied cohort had considerable excess mortality
when compared with the general population of Norway. In comparison with
the age matched general population the mortality rate was four times
higher for male drunken drivers. The excess mortality was even more
pronounced for drugged drivers, 18 times higher for men and 40 times
higher for women. The majority of deaths resulted from drug
poisoning/overdoses, accidents and suicides.
The result from our study demonstrated that the mortality among drunken
and drugged relatively young drivers was comparable to, and in fact often
higher than among alcohol and drug abusers.
Both our study (2) and the study of Coffey et al (1) indicated that
offenders, both adolescents or young adults, are marked by high risk of
premature deaths. Studies on socio-economic and education status have
generally found that young offenders are overrepresented in the lower
strata and unemployed categories. Both studies also show especially high
premature death for female offenders. Taken together the studies call for
the development of new strategies with respect to the follow-up of young
offenders, specially young women in countries around the world to prevent
a major loss of “live years”. The effectiveness of such new strategies
could be evaluated in future studies of similar types.
1. Coffey C, Veit F, Wolfe R, Cini E, Patton GC. Mortality in young
offenders: retrospective cohort study. BMJ 2003, 326: 1064-1067. (17 May.)
2. Skurtveit S, Christophersen AS, Grung M, Mørland J. Increased mortality
among previously apprehended drunken anad drugged drivers. Drug Alcohol
Depend. 2002, 68:143-150.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests