Causes of mortality in drunkenness offenders followed-up for 2 years

Causes of death in 8 of 235 drunkenness offenders each followed up for two years, have been described. The subjects followed up were a heterogenous population of alcohol abusers. The majority were alcohol dependent irregular heavy drinkers. The main causes of death were suicide, road traffic accident, domestic accident, liver cirrhosis, hypothermia (from exposure) and ischaemic heart disease. More than one cause of death was listed in all cases. Chronic alcoholism was frequently listed. Depression was another sub-ordinate cause of death. The overall observed rate of mortality was 30 times the expected rate which was many times higher than those reported by earlier workers for alcoholics generally. These findings were discussed and it was concluded that drunkenness offenders are a particular at risk sub group of alcoholics. In view of the appreciable post mortem blood alcohol levels, it was further concluded that chronic alcoholism and the actual state of being drunk were the two major causes of death in this group of alcohol abusers.