Life expectancy and productivity loss among narcotics addicts thirty-three years after index treatment
Smyth, Breda
Smyth, Breda
Loading...
Repository DOI
Publication Date
2006-09-22
Type
Article
Downloads
Citation
Smyth, B., Fan, J., & Hser, Y.-I. (2006). Life expectancy and productivity loss among narcotics addicts thirty-three years after index treatment. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 25(4), 37-47.
Abstract
This study computed the life expectancy of a cohort of male narcotics addicts followed for 33 years and assessed the productivity lost as a result of premature mortality. The future life expectancy was constructed for the narcotics addicts and for a comparable cohort from the general U.S. population. The average future life expectancy of the cohort was 18.84 years compared to 33.48 years for comparable U.S. males (t = 49.49, p < .00001). As a result of this premature mortality, the estimated monetary value of lost productivity was greater than $174 million. The lives of heroin addicts were severely truncated at productive ages resulting in a loss of potential productivity that increases social and economic burdens.
Funder
Publisher
Routledge
Publisher DOI
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Ireland