Fridell M, et al. - In people with substance use disorders, researchers sought to ascertain the influence of using different substances and psychiatric comorbidity on premature death generally and cause-specific death by overdose, intoxication, and somatic disorders. They followed a cohort of 1,405 patients consecutively admitted for substance use disorders to a Swedish detoxification unit in 1970–1995 for 42 years. During follow-up, death was reported in 42% of the cohort, more in men than women (46.3% vs 30.4%). They noted an increased risk of premature death in correlation to opiates while a lower risk was evident in correlation to amphetamine and cannabis. A higher risk of premature mortality was also evident in correlation to primary psychoses or mood/depression and anxiety disorders. Male gender, younger age at admission to treatment, opiate use, and comorbid depression and anxiety syndromes were predictive of death by overdose. Factors like male gender, use of sedatives/hypnotics or alcohol/mixed substances, primary psychoses, and depression/anxiety syndromes were predictive of death by intoxication. Male gender and alcohol/mixed abuse were predictive of premature death by somatic disorder. In the treatment of patients with substance use disorders, early identification of these factors is life-saving.