Odds Of Heroin Use Research Articles

Factors associated with heroin use among those reporting -prescription opioid misuse: Results from a nationally -representative sample.

The present investigation aims to identify characteristics associated with heroin use among those reporting prescription opioid misuse from a nationally representative sample, and how these characteristics vary by urbanicity. A cross-sectional analysis. Pooled 2015-2018 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the leading source for nationally representative substance use, mental health, and other health-related data and trends in the United States. 23,719 participants (12,109 male and 11,610 female) reporting previous prescription opioid misuse in the 2015-2018 NSDUH data. None. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were used to assess the association of characteristics with heroin use, stratified by urbanicity. After multivariable adjustment, factors associated with heroin use among prescription opioid misusers were male sex, non-Hispanic White race, low educational attainment, recent nonopioid illicit drug use, and recent nonopioid prescription drug misuse. Commercial health insurance was associated with lower odds of heroin use among both rural and urban prescription opioid misusers, but an observed association between Medicaid and greater odds of heroin use was stronger among urban versus rural participants. In contrast, observed associations between illicit drug use other than marijuana in the past year and greater odds of heroin use were stronger among rural vs urban participants. Important differences exist between factors associated with heroin use among urban and rural prescription opioid misusers, and there is a need to consider broader polysubstance use trends and barriers to mental healthcare access to adequately address heroin use.

Risk factors for heroin use following release from jail or prison in adults in a Central Appalachian state between 2012-2017

ABSTRACT Background Corrections-involved adults with a history of opioid use disorder are at elevated risk of opioid overdose following release from correctional settings. Increased opioid prescribing restrictions and monitoring during a time when heroin is becoming cheaper and ubiquitous means that adults who misused prescription opioids prior to incarceration may be reentering communities at greater risk for heroin exposure and use. Objectives Determine risk factors of post-release heroin use among a sample of adults who participated in corrections-based drug treatment in Kentucky released between 2012 and 2017. Methods Survey data obtained as part of an ongoing evaluation of corrections-based drug treatment were examined. Results The final sample (N = 1,563) was majority male (80.9%). Nearly 11.0% reported past-year heroin use following their release. Depressive symptoms, polydrug use, and urban proximity were more common among participants reporting post-release heroin use. Heroin use 30 days prior to incarceration was associated with a 432.1% increase in odds of heroin use subsequent to incarceration. Post-release suicidal ideation increased odds of heroin use by 154.2%, whereas reporting satisfaction from social interactions decreased odds of use by nearly 60%. Post-release use of cocaine and diverted buprenorphine were associated with increased likelihood of heroin use during this time period, increasing odds by 469.1% and 265.9%, respectively. Residing in Central Appalachia subsequent to incarceration was associated with decreased likelihood of use. Conclusions In this sample, post-release heroin use was associated with concerning features, such as polydrug use, lack of social satisfaction, and suicidal ideation. These features can serve as clear targets for clinical intervention.

Non-medical use of prescription drugs and its association with heroin use among high school students

Introduction: There is an established link between non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) and heroin use among adults; however, little is known about this relationship among adolescents. We investigate this association among a nationally-representative sample of U.S. high school students.Methods: Using data from the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n = 13,462), we ran logistic regression models with multiple imputation to examine the association between NMUPD and heroin use, while controlling for other risk behaviors and mental health problems.Results: In the final adjusted model, compared to high school students reporting never misusing prescription drugs, those reporting NMUPD 1–9 times in their lives had a 1.90 times greater odds of heroin use and those reporting ≥10 times had a 5.59 times greater odds. Additionally, the following variables were significantly associated with heroin use: being male, carrying a weapon in the past 30 days, history of sexual intercourse, dating violence victimization, and reporting other drug use.Conclusion: NMUPD was associated with increased odds of heroin use among high school students. Future studies should investigate what other factors increase the risk of heroin use longitudinally, which is crucial to understanding how to best intervene among this population to prevent NMUPD and heroin use.

Racial/ethnic differences in trends in heroin use and heroin-related risk behaviors among nonmedical prescription opioid users

BackgroundThis study examines changing patterns of past-year heroin use and heroin-related risk behaviors among individuals with nonmedical use of prescription opioids (NMUPO) by racial/ethnic groups in the United States. MethodsWe used data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2002 to 2005 and 2008 to 2011, resulting in a total sample of N=448,597. ResultsPast-year heroin use increased among individuals with NMUPO and increases varied by frequency of past year NMUPO and race/ethnicity. Those with NMUPO in the 2008–2011 period had almost twice the odds of heroin use as those with NMUPO in the 2002–2005 period (OR=1.89, 95%CI: 1.50, 2.39), with higher increases in non-Hispanic (NH) Whites and Hispanics. In 2008–2011, the risk of past year heroin use, ever injecting heroin, past-year heroin abuse or dependence, and the perception of availability of heroin increased as the frequency of NMUPO increased across respondents of all race/ethnicities. ConclusionIndividuals with NMUPO, particularly non-Hispanic Whites, are at high risk of heroin use and heroin-related risk behaviors. These results suggest that frequent nonmedical users of prescription opioids, regardless of race/ethnicity, should be the focus of novel public health efforts to prevent and mitigate the harms of heroin use.

Multiple substance use among heroin-dependent patients before and during attendance at methadone maintenance treatment program, Yunnan, China

BackgroundMultiple substance use is a common problem among heroin users. This study aims to describe patterns of multiple substance use one year before and during attendance at methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programs and associated variables of continued heroin use in MMT clinics in Yunnan, China. MethodsThe study was conducted among 168 heroin addicts who had received treatment for at least one year at two MMT clinics in Kunming city. A structured questionnaire, a medical record, and computer database were used to obtain history of substances use, significant clinical information, and treatment details, respectively. ResultsHeroin, tobacco, and alcohol were the most commonly used substances both before and during MMT. After one year in MMT, use of heroin, alcohol, tramadol, and triazolam significantly decreased whereas use of ephedrine increased. Simultaneous substance use was halved but the decrease was not statistically significant. The proportion of injecting users was reduced from 61% to 43%. History of heroin use in the preceding 6 months during MMT increased the odds of continued heroin use (OR=5.8, 95% CI=[2.9–11.3]). An average 10mg higher methadone dose increment was associated with a reduced odds of heroin use by 10%. ConclusionMMT did not reduce the number of substances used, but the number of injecting heroin users after the first year of treatment decreased. Heroin use in the preceding 6 months during MMT treatment and lower methadone dose were associated with continued heroin use in MMT.

Is inhalant use a risk factor for heroin and injection drug use among adolescents in the United States?

Purpose We examined whether inhalant use was associated with heroin and injection drug use (IDU) among adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States. Methods Data were drawn from the 2002/2003 administrations of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). We conducted logistic regression analyses to estimate associations of inhalant use with heroin use, heroin injection, and IDU, respectively, among adolescent drug users ( N = 8161). Results Approximately 30.9% of adolescents had ever used at least one illicit drug. More than one-fifth (22.2%) of adolescents were past-year or recent drug users. Among past-year adolescent drug users, 1.4% had progressed to heroin use and 1.2% reported IDU. Adolescents who had used inhalants and marijuana were 2.8 and 2.9 times as likely as adolescents who had used marijuana but not inhalants to report heroin use and any IDU, respectively. Adolescents who had used inhalants or other drugs but not marijuana were unlikely to use heroin. However, inhalant users, irrespective of their marijuana use histories, had greater odds of IDU than drug users who had not used inhalants. Adolescent drug users who were females, school dropouts, whites, or delinquents had significantly increased odds of heroin use and IDU. Cigarette smoking before the age of 15 was strongly associated with heroin use, and a history of foster care placement was associated with IDU. Conclusions This national study of American adolescents identifies several subgroups of recent drug users, such as females, school dropouts, and youth who have used inhalants and marijuana, which have substantially increased odds of heroin use and IDU. Screening, prevention, and treatment interventions targeted to these groups might reduce medical and social complications of heroin use and IDU.