Sex differences in the relationship between prescription opioid misuse and gun and other weapon-carrying behaviors

Abstract

BackgroundPrevious research shows that adolescent prescription opioid misuse is strongly associated with weapon carrying. MethodFor this research, data from the nationally representative 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey were analyzed. Average marginal predictions were estimated for gun and weapon carrying as a function of prescription opioid misuse and sex. As per STROBE guidelines, additive interactions with risk differences—in addition to multiplicative interactions with odds ratios and risk ratios—were estimated to investigate sex disparities in the effects of prescription opioid misuse on gun and other weapon-carrying. ResultsMale US high school students who misused prescription opioids had an especially high prevalence of gun and other weapon carrying. Additive interactions show significantly greater risk differences associated with prescription opioid misuse among male students compared to female students for gun carrying, weapon carrying, and weapon carrying at school. In contrast, multiplicative interactions show lower odds ratios and risk ratios among male students for these same weapon-carrying variables. DiscussionPrescription opioid misuse is a significantly greater risk factor for gun and other weapon carrying among male US high school students, which disproportionately increases the risk for violence perpetration, including suicide among these students. Researchers should follow STROBE guidelines and report additive interactions and risk differences separately by sex when investigating risk factors associated with gun and other weapon carrying.