Drug addict deaths in North and West London and prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B infection

Abstract

In a survey of 176 drug addict deaths occurring from 1987 to 1992 inclusive, in North and West London, nine were HIV positive, eight were hepatitis B positive, and two were positive for both infections; 63% were injectors. Of the 176 deaths, 115 were directly related to drug poisoning, 38 were due to complications of drug ingestion and 23 were from unrelated causes. No increase in the incidence of suicide was observed in addicts who knew that they were HIV positive.