A cohort of 300 young opioid addicts (203 male and 97 female) attending the City of Copenhagen Drug Treatment Service (200) or the Nordvang Hospital (100) for first-time treatment during 1973 was personally followed up in 1980 and 1984. In both studies about 90% were traced. Outcome was classified on a four-step scale according to current drug status and occupational status. In 1984 24% of the cohort were classified in the best outcome class while 26% were dead, yielding an average mortality of 2.4% per year. Sixteen per cent were classified as substance users, including persons mostly abusing alcohol or tranquilizers. In contrast to our predictions in 1980 the number of persons achieving stable abstinence does not turn out to be steadily increasing with time. The number of active drug addicts declines mainly because they die, not because they achieve abstinence. According to more strict criteria less than 20% would be classified as truly recovered. Another 5 - 10% achieve some unstable abstinence. The long-term prognosis seems to be highly unfavourable for the study population as a whole.

People who had achieved stable abstinence from injecting narcotics use were at lower risk of premature death than people with continued drug use. A residual observed excess mortality in people who had apparently achieved stable abstinence from drug use is consistent with the view of drug addiction as a chronic disease.

The metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent among a Danish outpatient population treated with antipsychotics compared with the general population. Monitoring of lipid and glucose levels, blood pressure and waist circumference before start-up and during treatment with antipsychotic medication is of pivotal importance in order to prevent diabetes and cardiovascular disease in this patient population.

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300 young morphine addicts in Copenhagen were personally followed up 7 years after their first referral for treatment. The tracking rate was 93.7%. Of the original population, approximately 2% died yearly, i.e. 16%. Each year 5-6% ceased drug abuse, and in 1980, 39% were characterized as being socially well adjusted. In all, 20% remained heavy drug users, though some had changed to other drugs.