Unintentional drug-related deaths in people with mental illness in NSW Australia, 2012-2016: a retrospective cohort study.
Jennifer Smith-MerryKenji FujitaTimothy Frank ChenAndrew J BailliePublished in: Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology (2022)
This study found that the drugs commonly involved in deaths are also the drugs commonly used by and prescribed to people with mental illness. There were also significant differences between gender, age group, and marital status in the trend and rate of unintentional drug-related deaths for people with mental illness. A multifaceted approach encompassing both pharmaceutical prescribing and targeted public health messaging is required to inform intervention and prevention strategies.