Risk of fatal overdose during and after specialist drug treatment: the VEdeTTE study, a national multi‐site prospective cohort study

Abstract

We demonstrate that a range of treatments for heroin dependence reduces overdose mortality risk. However, the considerable excess mortality risk in the month following treatment indicates the need for greater health education of drug users and implementation of relapse and overdose death prevention programmes. Further investigation is needed to measure and weigh the potential benefits and harms of short-term therapies for opiate use.