Depression in childhood may increase vulnerability to opioid euphoria in young adulthood

Abstract

Researchers have found that childhood depression as well as tobacco use were associated with later opioid use in general, weekly opioid use, and heroin use. The cohort study, based on the Great Smoky Mountains Study (GSMS), concluded that children with chronic depression may take opioids to alleviate the physical symptoms — including pain — that often accompany depression. While depression may not be an evident cause of such symptoms, these complaints may lead to unnecessary opioid prescriptions, and the child's first exposure to opioid‐associated euphoria. Childhood somatic complaints — and elevated inflammation and injury — were associated with progression from any to weekly non‐heroin opioid use.