Seventeen year mortality in a cohort of patients attending opioid agonist treatment in Ireland. Commentary on 'methadone-maintained patients in primary care have higher rates of chronic disease' (O'Toole et al., European Journal of General Practice 2014; 20:275-80)

OAT has substantially changed the course of the drug use epidemic. Although noted to reduce morbidity and mortality of patients attending specialised treatment clinics, limited longitudinal information is available on cohorts of such patients. To explore the mortality rates, we conducted a prospective observational study, through the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Ireland and the Central Methadone Treatment List.