Alcohol and Drug-Related Mortality Among Enrollees in the World Trade Center Health Registry (WTCHR), 2004 to 2012

Objective: Have World Trade Center Health Registry (WTCHR) enrollees experienced increased alcohol and drug-related mortality associated with exposures to the events of 9/11/01? Methods: Cases involving death due to alcohol or drugs between 2003 and 2012 in New York City (NYC) were obtained through a match of the Registry with NYC Vital Records. We compared ICD-10-coded deaths where alcohol and/or drug use was the underlying cause of death to deaths from all other causes. Results: Of 1193 deaths, 66 (5.5%) were alcohol/drug-related. Adjusted odds ratios for dying from alcohol/drug-related causes were significantly elevated for enrollees who were male, age 18 to 44 years, smoked at enrollment, had 9/11-related probable posttraumatic stress disorder, were rescue/recovery workers, or sustained an injury on 9/11/01. Conclusion: Following a major disaster, alcohol and drug-related mortality may be increased.