Pattern of drug use in a general population--prevalence and predicting factors: the Tromsø study.

Abstract

The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence of drug use, and how morbidity, use of health services, self-evaluated health, demographic pattern and lifestyle characteristics influence drug use in a general population. The study was carried out in the municipality of Tromsø, Norway. A sample of those aged 12-61 years was invited to the health survey, and 21,647 (75%) participated. The proportion of drug users increased with age in both sexes (P < 0.0001); from 25% to 52% of women and from 18% to 38% of men. Drug use dependent mainly on chronic diseases (odds ratio [OR] = 2.5 [women], OR = 3.5 [men]) and physical distress, especially symptoms of pain (OR = 2.3 [women], OR = 2.2 [men]). Number of visits to the doctor (OR = 2.4 [women], OR = 3.2 [men]) and attitude to own health (OR = 1.9 [women], OR = 1.7 [men]) were also significant predictors for drug use. Mental distress, lifestyle and demographic factors were of marginal importance (OR < 1.3). Chronic diseases and visits to the doctor were the only predictors showing significant gender difference. Drug use increased with age and was twice as common in women as in men (OR = 2.0). After adjustment for differences in morbidity, visits to the doctor, and other factors the gender difference was significantly reduced (OR = 1.4). Higher drug use in women was attributed to women's higher level of physical distress (especially headache), higher numbers of visits to the doctor, and a higher proportion of reported chronic diseases (especially eczema, migraine) and depression compared with men.