How do prescription opioid users differ from users of heroin or other drugs in psychopathology: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.
Abstract
To study substance use and psychiatric disorders among prescription opioid users,
heroin users, and non-opioid drug users in a national sample of adults.Analyses of
data from the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions
(N=43,093).Four groups were identified among 9140 illicit or non-prescribed drug users:
heroin-other opioid users (1.0%; used heroin and other opioids), other opioid-only
users (19.8%; used other opioids but never heroin), heroin-only users (0.5%; used
heroin but never other opioids), and non-opioid drug users (78.7%; used drugs but
never heroin or other opioids). After adjusting for variations in socioeconomic characteristics,
history of substance abuse treatment, and familial substance abuse, heroin-other opioid
users had greater odds of several substance use disorders (cocaine, hallucinogen,
sedative, amphetamine, and tranquilizer) as compared with the other groups; heroin-only
users had reduced odds of sedative and tranquilizer use disorders as compared with
other opioid-only users. Non-opioid drug users had reduced odds of all substance use
disorders and other mental disorders (mood, anxiety, pathological gambling, and personality)
as compared with other opioid-only users. Past-year other opioid-only users also reported
slightly lower scores on quality of life than past-year non-opioid drug users.All
opioid use groups had higher rates of substance use disorders than non-opioid drug
users, and these rates were particularly elevated among heroin-other opioid users.
Findings suggest the need to distinguish between these four groups in research and
treatment as they may have different natural histories and treatment needs.
Type
Journal articleSubject
HumansSubstance-Related Disorders
Opioid-Related Disorders
Heroin Dependence
Narcotics
Street Drugs
Health Surveys
Cross-Sectional Studies
Mental Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Mood Disorders
Personality Disorders
Psychopathology
Interview, Psychological
Comorbidity
Quality of Life
Adolescent
Adult
Middle Aged
United States
Female
Male
Young Adult
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/19992Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1097/ADM.0b013e3181e0364ePublication Info
Wu, Li-Tzy; Woody, George E; Yang, Chongming; & Blazer, Dan G (2011). How do prescription opioid users differ from users of heroin or other drugs in psychopathology:
results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.
Journal of addiction medicine, 5(1). pp. 28-35. 10.1097/ADM.0b013e3181e0364e. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/19992.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Daniel German Blazer
J. P. Gibbons Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry
I am currently semi-retired. Most of my recent work has been focused on roles with
the National Academy of Medicine (former Institute of Medicine). I have chaired three
committees during the past four years, one on the mental health and substance use workforce,
one on cognitive aging, and one on hearing loss in adults. I currently also chair
the Board on the Health of Select Populations for the National Academies. In the past
I have been PI on a number of research
Li-Tzy Wu
Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Education/Training: Pre- and post-doctoral training in mental health service research,
psychiatric epidemiology (NIMH T32), and addiction epidemiology (NIDA T32) from Johns
Hopkins University School of Public Health (Maryland); Fellow of the NIH Summer Institute
on the Design and Conduct of Randomized Clinical Trials.Director: Duke Community Based
Substance Use Disorder Research Program.Research interests: COVID-19, Opioid misuse,
Opioid overdose, Opioid use disorder
Alphabetical list of authors with Scholars@Duke profiles.

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