Drug-related deaths in Scotland 1979-2013: evidence of a vulnerable cohort of young men living in deprived areas.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Even after accounting for deprivation, mortality rates are higher in Scotland relative to the rest of Western Europe. Higher mortality from alcohol- and drug-related deaths (DRDs), violence and suicide (particularly in young adults) contribute to this 'excess' mortality. Age-period and cohort effects help explain the trends in alcohol-related deaths and suicide, respectively. This study investigated whether age, period or cohort effects might explain recent trends in DRDs in Scotland and relate to exposure to the changing political context from the 1980s.

Methods

We analysed data on DRDs from 1979 to 2013 by sex and deprivation using shaded contour plots and intrinsic estimator regression modelling to identify and quantify relative age, period and cohort effects.<

SUBMITTER: Parkinson J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5870372 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature