Oral Health Among Illicit Drug Users in Northern Finland

The aim of the study was to provide evidence on the oral health of Northern Finnish people with experience of illicit drug use, referenced against the age-matched general population, Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (NFBC1986). In total, 118/1551 subjects, average age 33/34 years, and 66%/40% males participated in the studies for the people with experience of drug use and NFBC1986, respectively. Most of the people who use drugs were single, unemployed, or retired, and had a low level of education, whereas the opposite was true for NFBC1986. A majority of the people with experience of drug use were active smokers whereas 17% in NFBC1986 reported smoking. The people who use drugs had fewer teeth, more caries lesions, more severe consequences of caries and plaque, and more frequently reduced salivary flow, than the general population. The people who use drugs had poorer oral health compared to the age-matched general population.