Long-term patterns of heroin use and mental health: 11-Year follow-up of the Australian treatment outcome study

Abstract

s / Drug and Alcohol Dependence 146 (2015) e118–e201 e193 associated with fewer child INT at age 4.5 years and a reduction in child INT from 4.5 to 6 years. Conclusions: Thus, drug use and tobacco use, the strongest prenatal risks, may increase youths’ sensitivity to environmental cues (evidenced by increased morning cortisol). Whereas generally this sensitivity to environmental cues would translate into more problems in youth who would experience an environment consistent with the genetic and prenatal risk (i.e., parental SU), in this study children were adopted into generally positive environments. Thus, in this sample children exposed to drug and tobacco use may be able to take advantage of the generally positive environmental influences because of altered cortisol function. Financial support: R01HD042608, R01MH092118, F31DA033737 and T32DA016184. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.09.439 Long-term patterns of heroin use and mental health: 11-Year follow-up of the Australian treatment outcome study Christina Marel1, Maree Teesson1, Katherine Mills1, Shane Darke1, Joanne Ross1, Tim Slade1, Lucy Burns1, Michael Lynskey2 1 National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia 2 Washington University, St Louis, MO, United States Aims: Heroin dependence is a chronic and in many cases, lifelong condition, associated with comorbid mental health disorders. Using data collected as part of the Australian Treatment Outcome Study, the present paper aims to examine the major findings of heroin use, comorbid disorders and treatment patterns over 10–11 years. Methods: 615 people with heroin dependence were recruited to the study in 2001–2002, and re-interviewed at 3-, 12-, 24-, 36months and10–11years post-baseline (follow-up rates of 89%, 81%, 76%, 70% and 69% at the time of writing). Heroin dependence was assessedat each timepointusing theComposite InternationalDiagnostic Interview version 2.1, and heroin treatment since the last interview was obtained using the timeline follow-back method. Results: At 11-years, preliminary analyses indicate that over 14% of the cohort endorsed criteria for heroin dependence and 47% were in treatment for opiate dependence. One fifth of the cohort met criteria for current depression; 41% for current post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and22%had committed at least one crime in thepastmonth. Theoverwhelmingmajority of the cohort (98%)had experienced a period of abstinence in the follow-up period, with a median period of consecutive abstinence of 60 months (5 years). Overall, physical and mental health was poorer than population norms. Just over 10% of the cohort were deceased. Conclusions: Despite significant reductions in heroin use and dependence over the 11-year follow-up period, there were continued high rates of other comorbidities. Further, although a significant proportion of the cohort achieved continual abstinence for substantial portions of the follow-up period, preliminary findings highlight the importance for long-term treatment for this chronic debilitating condition. Financial support: The study was funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.09.440 Cocaine-dependent subjects display attentional bias toward cocaine-related but not alcohol-related stimuli Katherine R. Marks1,3, William W. Stoops1,3, Craig R. Rush1,2,3 1 Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States 2 Psychiatry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States 3 Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY,