Titre : | Comparing characteristics of prescription painkiller misusers and heroin users in the United States (2015) |
Auteurs : | K. K. RIGG ; S. M. MONNAT |
Type de document : | Article : Périodique |
Dans : | Addictive Behaviors (Vol.51, December 2015) |
Article en page(s) : | 106-112 |
Langues: | Anglais |
Discipline : | EPI (Epidémiologie / Epidemiology) |
Mots-clés : |
Thésaurus géographique ETATS-UNISThésaurus mots-clés ANTALGIQUES ; HEROINE ; COMPARAISON ; USAGER ; MEDICAMENTS ; MESUSAGE ; OPIACES ; CATEGORIE SOCIO-PROFESSIONNELLE |
Résumé : |
Introduction: Prescription painkiller misuse (PPM) is a major U.S. public health concern. However, as prescribing practices have tightened and prescription painkillers have become less accessible, many users have turned to heroin as a substitute. This trend suggests the face of heroin users has likely changed over the past several years. Understanding the demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and substance use characteristics of different groups of opiate users is important for properly tailoring interventions.
Methods: This study used data from the 2010-2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to examine differences in characteristics of U.S. adults in three mutually exclusive categories of past-year opiate use: heroin-only (H-O, N = 179), prescription painkiller-only (PP-O, N = 9,516), and heroin and prescription painkiller (H-PP, N = 506). Results: Socioeconomic disadvantage, older age, disconnection from social institutions, criminal justice involvement, and easy access to heroin were associated with greater odds of being in the H-O group. HH-P users were more likely to be young white males with poor physical and mental health who also misuse other prescription medications and began such misuse as adolescents. PP-O users were the most economically stable, most connected to social institutions, least likely to have criminal justice involvement, and had the least access to heroin. Conclusions: Results suggest the socio-demographic characteristics of heroin users versus PP misusers vary widely, and the conditions leading to heroin use versus PPM versus both may be different. Ultimately, a one-size-fits-all approach to opiate prevention and treatment is likely to fail. Interventions must account for the unique needs of different user groups. Highlights: We compared the characteristics of three distinct types of illicit opiate users. Depending on the types of opiates taken, user characteristics/outcomes vary widely. Interventions must account for the unique needs of these groups to enhance effectiveness. This study serves as a starting point for examining pathways into heroin/painkiller use. |
Domaine : | Autres substances / Other substances ; Drogues illicites / Illicit drugs |
Affiliation : | Department of Mental Health Law & Policy, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA |
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