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More men than women report nonmedical prescription opioid use, according to the results of a nationally representative survey of 55,279 individuals published online in Addictive Behaviors.
Men were significantly more likely to endorse lifetime nonmedical use of prescription opioids (15.9% vs. 11.2%) and past-year use (5.9% vs. 4.2%), according to Sudie E. Back, Ph.D., and colleagues at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (Addict. Behav. 2010 June 22 [doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2010.06.018
The investigators looked at data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Most of the participants were over age 35, white, employed, and married.
The investigators found no significant difference between men and women on the rates of opioid abuse or dependence. Among individuals who had used prescription opioids nonmedically during the past year, 13.2% met the criteria for current abuse or dependence.
In a multivariate analysis that controlled for numerous demographic factors, the investigators isolated several independent predictors of past-year nonmedical prescription opioid use. Among both men and women, nonmedical tranquilizer or sedative use was the strongest predictor, with adjusted odds ratios of 16.4 for men and 16.5 for women. Among men, but not women, use of heroin, cocaine, or hallucinogens, and illicit drug or alcohol use or dependence were significant independent predictors of past-year nonmedical prescription opioid use. Among women, but not men, serious psychological distress and cigarette use were significant independent predictors.
For both men and women, younger age was an independent predictor of prescription opioid use and abuse, with the age group 18-25 at the highest risk. “Given that young age is a consistent correlate of the initiation of nonmedical prescription opioid use as well as abuse/dependence, urgent attention focused on adolescents and young adults is warranted,” the authors wrote.
More men than women report nonmedical prescription opioid use, according to the results of a nationally representative survey of 55,279 individuals published online in Addictive Behaviors.
Men were significantly more likely to endorse lifetime nonmedical use of prescription opioids (15.9% vs. 11.2%) and past-year use (5.9% vs. 4.2%), according to Sudie E. Back, Ph.D., and colleagues at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (Addict. Behav. 2010 June 22 [doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2010.06.018
The investigators looked at data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Most of the participants were over age 35, white, employed, and married.
The investigators found no significant difference between men and women on the rates of opioid abuse or dependence. Among individuals who had used prescription opioids nonmedically during the past year, 13.2% met the criteria for current abuse or dependence.
In a multivariate analysis that controlled for numerous demographic factors, the investigators isolated several independent predictors of past-year nonmedical prescription opioid use. Among both men and women, nonmedical tranquilizer or sedative use was the strongest predictor, with adjusted odds ratios of 16.4 for men and 16.5 for women. Among men, but not women, use of heroin, cocaine, or hallucinogens, and illicit drug or alcohol use or dependence were significant independent predictors of past-year nonmedical prescription opioid use. Among women, but not men, serious psychological distress and cigarette use were significant independent predictors.
For both men and women, younger age was an independent predictor of prescription opioid use and abuse, with the age group 18-25 at the highest risk. “Given that young age is a consistent correlate of the initiation of nonmedical prescription opioid use as well as abuse/dependence, urgent attention focused on adolescents and young adults is warranted,” the authors wrote.
More men than women report nonmedical prescription opioid use, according to the results of a nationally representative survey of 55,279 individuals published online in Addictive Behaviors.
Men were significantly more likely to endorse lifetime nonmedical use of prescription opioids (15.9% vs. 11.2%) and past-year use (5.9% vs. 4.2%), according to Sudie E. Back, Ph.D., and colleagues at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (Addict. Behav. 2010 June 22 [doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2010.06.018
The investigators looked at data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Most of the participants were over age 35, white, employed, and married.
The investigators found no significant difference between men and women on the rates of opioid abuse or dependence. Among individuals who had used prescription opioids nonmedically during the past year, 13.2% met the criteria for current abuse or dependence.
In a multivariate analysis that controlled for numerous demographic factors, the investigators isolated several independent predictors of past-year nonmedical prescription opioid use. Among both men and women, nonmedical tranquilizer or sedative use was the strongest predictor, with adjusted odds ratios of 16.4 for men and 16.5 for women. Among men, but not women, use of heroin, cocaine, or hallucinogens, and illicit drug or alcohol use or dependence were significant independent predictors of past-year nonmedical prescription opioid use. Among women, but not men, serious psychological distress and cigarette use were significant independent predictors.
For both men and women, younger age was an independent predictor of prescription opioid use and abuse, with the age group 18-25 at the highest risk. “Given that young age is a consistent correlate of the initiation of nonmedical prescription opioid use as well as abuse/dependence, urgent attention focused on adolescents and young adults is warranted,” the authors wrote.