(1/9) #COPD is extremely common among people who use heroin. We studied treatment and outcomes in this important patient group. Diagnosis is often late, and the risk of exacerbations is double that of other patients. New research in @BMJMedicine bmjmedicine.bmj.com/content/1/1/e0… (2/9) We studied a large cohort of >100k people with a history of using heroin and other illicit opioids in England. In this cohort, the rate of death with a primary cause of COPD was 15x greater than for people of the same age in the general population.

(1/6) The UK has a crisis of drug-related deaths. Our study in @PLOSMedicine looks at the role of hospital admissions. Over 10 years, >1000 people died after using drugs like heroin soon after discharge, and the risk in this period is 4x higher than usual. journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/a… (2/6) We did this study because there have been tragic cases where patients have died after using drugs in places such as hospital toilets and car parks. We wanted to know how often this happens and if hospitals are a risky place for people who use drugs.