A ad // Contents // Introductory note and acknowledgements 5 // Introduction 7 // Data sources 8 // What are cohort studies and what do they tell us? 8 // Key findings from recent mortality cohorts in Europe 10 // High mortality rates among problem drug users 10 // Excess risk of death among problem drug users 11 // What are the major causes of death among problem drug users? 12 // Overdoses 13 // Deaths caused by diseases 15 // Suicide and trauma 17 // Risk factors for mortality 18 // Public health perspectives and implications 20 // Deaths related to drug use: a summary 20 // Treatment is protective 20 // Overdose prevention 21 // Prevention and control of infectious diseases 21 // Prevention of suicide and trauma-related deaths 22 // Towards a better understanding of drug-related mortality for // more effective action 23 // Improving our understanding of trends 23 // Improving information from cohort studies 23 // Conclusion 24 // Appendix: Selected mortality studies among problem drug users // in Europe, published since 1995 or reported to the EMCDDA 25 // Glossary 29 // References 30 // 3