Héctor M. Colón, PhD¹, Sherry Deren, PhD², Rafaela R. Robles, EdD¹, Myrna Cabassa, MA¹, Sung-Yeon Kang, PhD², and Jonny Andia, PhD². (1) Center for Addiction Studies, School of Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, PO Box 60327, Bayamón, PR 00960-6032, 787-288-0200, hcolon@uccaribe.edu, (2) National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23rd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010

BACKGROUND: Differences in risks of mortality were examined among Puerto Rican drug users from East Harlem (EH), New York and Bayamon (BY), Puerto Rico. METHODS: Drug users (EH – 800, BY – 399) were recruited during 1998-99 and followed for three years. Mortality and cause of death data were ascertained through the National Death Index and local health departments. Multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of mortality. RESULTS: The annual mortality rate of participants in BY was three times higher than in EH (4.6 and 1.5 per 100py, respectively). Deaths due to HIV/AIDS accounted for similar proportions in both sites (EH – 36.8%, BY – 35.8%). Drug overdoses accounted for a slightly larger proportion in BY (20.8%) than in EH (15.8%). Homicide accounted for 13.2% of deaths in BY and for none in EH. Independent predictors of mortality were age 45 years or older (RR = 4.8; 95% CI = 1.1, 21.5), high school education (RR = 0.6; 95% CI = 0.4, 0.9), HIV seropositivity (RR = 4.2; 95% CI = 2.7, 6.7), injection of only heroin (RR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.1, 5.4), injection of mixed heroin and cocaine (RR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.1, 4.3), and BY site (RR = 4.5; 95% CI = 2.8, 7.1). CONCLUSIONS: Drug users in Puerto Rico seem to be at very high risk of premature mortality due to HIV infection, drug overdoses, and homicide. Interventions to reduce the risks of premature death among drug users in Puerto Rico are urgently needed.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the risks of premature mortality among Hispanic drug users
• Articulate the risk factors associated with premature mortality among Hispanic drug users

Keywords: Mortality, Hispanic

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.