Lloyd B, et al. – The prime focus of this research was to investigate mortality during and following treatment across treatment modalities. The findings suggested that better understanding of factors contributing to elevated mortality risk for clients engaged in, and following treatment, is required to assure that treatment systems provide optimal results during and after treatment.

Methods

• A retrospective seven-year cohort was used to inspect mortality during and in the 2 years following treatment among clients from Victoria, Australia, recorded on the Alcohol and Drug Information Service database by linking with National Death Index.
• 18,686 clients over a 12-month period were incorporated.
• Crude (CMRs) and standardised mortality rates (SMRs) were examined in terms of treatment modality, and time in or out of treatment.

Results

• The results of this study showed that higher risk of premature death was related to residential withdrawal as the last type of treatment engagement.
• On the other hand, mortality following counselling was significantly lower than all other treatment types in the year post-treatment.
• It was observed in the findings that both CMRs and SMRs were significantly higher in-treatment than post-treatment.