Predictors Of Substance Abuse Research Articles

A Systematic Literature Review on the Predictors of Drug Abuse, Substance Use, and Opioid Misuse among Adolescents

Opioid misuse and dependence on prescribed opioids have strong link with drug addiction prevalence among adolescents. To gather evidence on the predictors of substance use, opioid abuse, and misuse of prescribed opioids, a systematic literature review was conducted covering articles published between 2016-2022. Of the 31 included articles, descriptively, substance use was considered as the dependent outcome in most of the studies (n = 15), compared to opioid misuse (n = 11), and prescription opioid misuse (n = 5). Resultantly, the common factors for substance use, opioid abuse, and misuse of prescribed opioids were broadly categorised into family-related factors, pain intensity and interference, comorbidity and psychopathology, demographic factors, substance use disorders and other drug addictive behaviours, and peer influence. Apart from the need to provide alternative pain management strategies, these factors should be considered by clinicians in identifying adolescents who are currently engaged in substance use or opioid abuse, and those likely to misuse prescribed opioids in the future.

Self-esteem, health locus of control and resilient personality as predictors of substance abuse among in-school adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria

Self-esteem, health locus of control and resilient personality as predictors of substance abuse among in-school adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria

A Systematic Literature Review on the Predictors of Drug Abuse, Substance Use, and Opioid Misuse among Adolescents

A Systematic Literature Review on the Predictors of Drug Abuse, Substance Use, and Opioid Misuse among Adolescents

Parenting Styles as a Predictor of Substance Abuse among Undergraduates in Public Universities in Kwara State

The study aimed at viewing Parenting Styles as a predictor of substance abuse among undergraduates in Nigeria and also determined the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Descriptive research design of correlational type was used for this study. A sampling procedure was employed to select 216 respondents and a questionnaire consisting of two sub-scales namely; Substance Abuse Scale (SAS) and Parenting Practices Questionnaire (PPQ) were adapted as the research tool for the collection of data. Frequency counts, percentage and charts were used to describe demographic data of sampled respondents while the research hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance with the use of Pearson Product Moment Coefficient (PPMC). The findings showed that majority of undergraduates in public universities in Kwara State were affected by the authoritarian parenting style which instigated most of them to become substance addicts. Suggestions and recommendations were made to parents, counselors, lecturers, University management, government and religious groups among which is the organisation of self-awareness skills training by the counsellors and excursion exercise to rehab centers by the management as well as provision of spiritual counseling by the religious groups. Suggestions were made to further this study for wider scope and efficient results in the society.

Parental Conflict as Predictor of Drug Abuse and PTSD among Secondary School Students in Rivers State

Parental conflict is a scourge that has ravaged society in so many forms. Many homes experience parental conflict at varying degrees and intervals. In some cases, partners have been burned with iron or hot metals, experienced fractured bones or skulls, broken teeth, bruises, sprains, abrasions, loss of consciousness, and, in some severe cases, a form of deformity or the ultimate: death. The children who see these nasty occurrences as well may have trouble sleeping because they keep having memories of these events that have occurred or are occurring. Children who live in homes where violent forms of parental conflict take place go on to become abusers of drugs and experience PTSD due to the recurring nature of the violence from childhood into adulthood. The study investigated parental conflict as a predictor of drug abuse and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among secondary school students in Rivers State. A sample of 800 secondary students in Rivers State participated in the study. The study measured Parental Conflict using the Parental Conflict Scale (PCS), drug abuse using the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10), and PTSD using the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5). The data was analysed using linear and multiple regression. The outcomes of the study revealed that parental conflict significantly predicts drug abuse and PTSD. It is recommended that parents be taught about the impact their conflicts have on their children and about better conflict resolution methods. Also, parents who have anger problems should be taught anger management. Adolescents who have been identified as being dependent on substances and having symptoms of PTSD need to be retrained and restored.

Examination of the Relationship Between Severity of Addiction and Personality: The Mediating Effect of Social Alienation and Emotional, Cognitive Regulation

Background: The current research investigated the mediating roles of social alienation and emotional and cognitive regulation in the relation between personality and severity of substance abuse in students. This study is a descriptive-correlational research design. Objectives: This study, used a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach to evaluate the correlates of the severity of the addiction. This path analytical strategy allowed for the simultaneous examination of the mentioned variables. Methods: The sample of this study included all students in Tehran province (the academic year of 2022). Five hundred fifty students took part in the current research. NEO-PI-R, social alienation, and the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) were used. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling. Results: Considering that the model fit indices represent a good fit of the model and the mean root square of the estimation error (RMSEA) was equal to 0.029, which shows a very good fit, and according to the presented indicators, the research model is confirmed. The results indicate that the relationship between variables is significant (P value 0.05). The direct effect of personality on the severity of addiction and social isolation is equal to -0.68 and -0.73, respectively, and in terms of cognitive emotion regulation is estimated to be 0.85. The indirect effect of personality on addiction severity was calculated at 0.86 by social alienation and -0.79 by emotional cognition. Conclusions: Our results suggest that personality features mediated by social alienation and emotional and cognitive regulation can be used to predict the severity of the addiction. Therefore, the proposed model was cleared to be an appropriate model for predicting substance abuse in students.

Psychological Distress, Negative Life Event and Personality Trait as Predictors of Substance Abuse among Youths in Ibadan Metropolis

This study examined the role of psychological distress, negative life event and personality traits as predictors of substance abuse among youths in Ibadan metropolis. This study employed a descriptive, cross sectional and purposive sampling technique design. Data was collected through quantitative using questionnaire survey. A standardized questionnaire was administered to a total of 267 respondents. The statistical package for the social science (SPSS version 23) was used to analyze using descriptive and inferential statistics (Univariate, bivariate and multivariate regression analyses). Persons’ r moment correlation coefficient-test analysis, and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data obtained. Five objectives were stated to guild this study. The theoretical framework for this study was biological model, transactional model of stress coping and big five trait theory. Instrumentation included the psychological distress scale (K6). A 6- items self – constructed questionnaire was developed by the researchers. It had a general reliability coefficient of 0.87 using Cronbach alpha. Hypothesis one was tested using Zero order correlation relationship analysis, hypothesis two and five was tested using independent sample T-test while hypothesis three and four was tested using multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that psychological distress, negative life event and personality traits with psychotropic substances, antagonism mental health state examination of the youths stands as the key indicators of substance abuse. Early assessment, specific diagnosis might help patient vulnerably and elevated risk to psychoactive substances. Interventions designed to build effective coping skills, emotional intelligence, and positive emotional mental wellbeing will serve as an effective coping skill to prevent substance abuse.

Association of Substance Abuse and Tuberculosis among Tribes: Study in Three Tribal Settings of Kerala, India

Substance abuse such as alcohol consumption and smoking serve as profound indicators for Tuberculosis (TB). Tribes in rural India are the vulnerable population for various diseases and substance abuse is more prevalent among them. Very few studies have been conducted to find the substance abuse and its association with TB among tribes in Kerala. Hence, we sought to understand the prevalence of substance abuse among tribes, and its association with chest symptomatic cases and cases with history of TB. This study aimed to identify the predictors of negative social behaviours among tribes and their association with chest symptomatic cases and history of TB. It was part of a collaborative research program to estimate the burden of TB amongst tribal groups, by ICMR, NIRT, Chennai and SRM University, Kancheepuram and Population Research Centre, Kerala conducted in 2018. This article presents the prevalence of substance abuse (tobacco and alcohol) among tribes, and its association with chest symptomatic cases and cases with history of TB. The study also tried to find out the predictors of substance use among tribes. Among 2609 tribes interviewed, 14.6% were smokers, 47 percent were used smokeless tobacco and 29% were consumed alcohol and only 20 respondents reported using drugs. Significant association of chest symptoms and TB history status with district, category of tribe, age, education, marital status, and nutrition are observed in the study. Chest symptomatic cases and those who had the history of TB had a highly significant association with use of smokeless tobacco and smoking. However, the study could not find a significant difference between those consuming alcohols. The predictors of substance abuse were found to be in higher age groups, low education, being in the low socio-economic profile and in the low BMI. To attain health goals like zero TB, control of substance use is an essential component especially among tribal communities. This study highlights the importance of education and better living conditions in reducing negative health behaviours among tribes.

Peer pressure and social adjustment as predictive indicators of substance abuse among selected sample of psychiatric patients in a teaching hospital in south-west, Nigeria

Substance abuse is a major public health challenge the world over. Adequate research connection has not been fully established between peer pressure and social adjustment as predictors of substance abuse particularly among psychiatric patient. Therefore, this study examined the roles of peer pressure and social adjustment in predicting perceived substance abuse among Psychiatric patients. Using cross-sectional survey design, 198 patients (Male=119; Female=79) participated in the study. Their ages ranged from 18-40 (M=28.45, SD=4.22). Instruments used were 10-item Peer Pressure Inventory (PPI), 45-item Social Adjustment Inventory (SA), and 10-item Drug Abuse Screening (DAS). Three hypotheses were formulated and tested. The result showed that, peer pressure (β=0.33; p<0.05 level of significance) and social adjustments (β=0.61;p<0.05 level of significance) were significant predictors of substance abuse among Psychiatric Patients. The result of the regression analysis showed that peer pressure (β=0.38,p<0.01) significantly predicted substance abuse, social adjustment (β=0.25,p<0.01) showed a significant relationship to substance abuse and the two variables jointly predicted substance abuse (F(2.198)=3.97,p<0.05). It was recommended that the health sector should engage in enlightenment campaign on the negative consequences of substance abuse among psychiatric patients.

Meaning in life as a mediator of dark triad with confidence in treatment and subjective evaluation of treatment outcome among male drug abstainers.

BackgroundAlthough the roles of personality in predicting substance abuse have been widely documented, few studies have investigated the relationships the dark triad (DT) personalities had with confidence in treatment (CIT) and subjective evaluation of treatment outcome (SETO) in drug abstainers.ObjectiveThis study examined the relationship between DT and treatment-relevant variables, and the potential effect of meaning in life (MIL) in these links.MethodsParticipants were male inpatients who started substance abuse treatment between June and December 2018 in Henan Province, China. The inclusion criteria were the diagnosis of substance use disorders. The exclusion criteria were illiteracy, comorbidity with psychopathology disorders, intellectual disability, and refusal of consent. A total of 236 men (aged 21–62 years, M = 45.30, SD = 7.72) were randomly selected and reported their DT, MIL, CIT, and SETO.ResultsResults showed that DT was negatively correlated with MIL, CIT, and SETO. MIL was positively correlated with CIT and SETO. The dark triad is associated with CIT both directly and indirectly via MIL. DT is indirectly correlated with SETO via MIL. Higher levels of DT in drug abstainers can reduce CIT and SETO by decreasing individual's MIL.ConclusionThis study provides insights into the links between the DT and treatment-relevant variables, which can potentially impact the effectiveness of current substance abuse treatment programs.

Memories of Parental Rejection in Childhood and Current Psychological Maladjustment Predict Substance Abuse in a Collectivist Religious Country

Memories of Parental Rejection in Childhood and Current Psychological Maladjustment Predict Substance Abuse in a Collectivist Religious Country

Inexpensive Detection of Substance Abuse Based on Social Media Data using Machine Learning

Over the past few years, substance abuse has become one of the most severe public health problems in the United States. The annual cost of substance abuse aftereffects in the United States alone is approximately $3.73 Trillion. The societal costs of substance abuse include premature deaths, lost productivity, and increased crime rates. Unfortunately, many victims, especial¬ly in lower-income families, don't have access to early detection and early family intervention tools due to limited access to traditional diagnostic tools and rehab specialists. Currently, there is no complete diagnostic pipeline to inexpensively detect substance abuse and automatically inform family members or trusted contacts. To combat this, the experimenter developed the SOS 280 system, which utilizes machine learning techniques in a smartphone application. SOS 280 works through social media monitorin¬g and automatic notification using SMS and GPS location. The SOS280 algorithm primarily uses social media data, namely publicly available Twitter, and Instagram posts, to identify substance abuse-related activity. The experimenter collected and classified data by applying for the Twitter and Instagram Developer API Platforms, mining tweets and posts with specific drug keywords present. The investigator trained a Natural Language Processing (NLP) text classification model to analyze the sentiments on the tweets, then classifying them as positives (containing substance abuse-related keywords) and negatives. The master model is a Bidirectional Encoder Representations (BERT) derivative that uses a transformer-based architecture to detect emotions in sentences and conversations to classify substance abuse instances. In total, the researchers looked at 55,551 tweets and Instagram posts indicative of potentially alarming substance usage. Finally, the experimenter developed a smartphone application to capture trusted contact information and GPS location, send data to a remote server housing the neural network, output the network's detection, and send automated alerts to trusted contacts via SMS and GPS location. The experimenter further validated the system's effectiveness through a partnership with national nonprofit Faces and Voices of Recovery, which works with 23 million addiction recovery victims. SOS280 is an inexpensive, reliable, easy to use, and timely tool for families of young adults in predicting substance abuse.

Sex differences in conditioned orienting and the role of estradiol in addiction-related behaviors.

Conditioned orienting response (OR) is a form of cue-directed behavior thought to indicate increased attentional and/or motivational processing of reward-associated stimuli. OR as a phenotype has been shown to predict both direct drug proclivity in female rats and behaviors indirectly related to drug proclivity in male rats, but no extant research has compared males and females in terms of their OR behavior or its notable substrates. As females are at increased risk for substance abuse, and the ovarian hormone estradiol is often cited as a driving factor for this predilection, it is important to characterize sex differences between males and females and explore what, if any, contribution estradiol has in behaviors which predict substance abuse. In these experiments, male and female rats [intact or ovariectomized (OVX) with/without estradiol replacement] were compared on a battery of behavioral tasks, including OR, novelty-seeking, attentional set-shifting, and ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) to amphetamine treatment. Female rats, regardless of estradiol replacement, had higher OR scores than males. OR score was a predictor of attention impairments, and estradiol availability contributed to this relationship in females. Sex differences were not observed in novelty-seeking, attentional set-shifting, or USV response to amphetamine; however, estradiol replacement did alter the presentation of these behaviors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Predictors of Drug Abuse Relapse for Iranian Addicted Women: An Application of Social Cognitive Theory

Objectives: Substance abuse prevalence has risen over the past decade among women, and accordingly, sex-specific barriers impede women’s access and participation in treatment programs, while the chief issue in providing treatment programs for women with substance abuse is the high relapse rate seen in the subjects. With all these in mind, the present study was conducted with the objective of recognizing the sociocognitive factors that concern the relapse of substance abuse in women. Methods: Two hundred women subjects under treatment in outpatient addiction treatment and rehabilitation centers in Kurdistan province in 2019 participated in this descriptive study. Data were obtained by means of a questionnaire that included demographic questions, history of substance use, and structures of social cognitive theory. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 21 that further used logistic regression, χ2, and independent t tests. Results: The average age of the respondents was estimated 37.75±10.49. The relapse rate amounted to 80% among the participants. Logistic regression test analysis designated that the structures of situational perception, social support, and self-efficacy act as the factors that predict substance abuse relapses in women (R=0.42; P<0.05). Conclusions: Social cognitive theory is considered a valid theoretical method for deciphering the relation observed between substance abuse relapse predictors in women. Therapists’ consciousness on gaining social support and strengthening self-efficacy in the subjects may serve to improve the aftermaths of substance abuse treatment programs in women.

The Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC) predicts substance abuse treatment completion

Recovery from addiction requires various personal and environmental resources. The purposes of this study were to determine if the Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC) scores measured at admission could predict substance abuse treatment (SAT) completion and to identify personal and environmental factors associated with ARC scores. Participants (N = 2265) comprised clients entering a Midwestern SAT facility (August 2015 – June 2017). Logistic regression was used to predict SAT completion using ARC scores. Nonparametric group comparisons were used for personal and environmental covariates. ARC scores significantly predicted successful SAT completion (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.05, Wald z = 12.9, p < 0.001). Employment had a positive relationship with ARC scores (Kruskal-Wallis χ2 = 215.96, df = 8, p < 0.001). ARC scores varied according to primary substance (Kruskal-Wallis χ2 = 101.10, df = 6, p < 0.001); alcohol and marijuana showed the highest scores and heroin the lowest. ARC scores decreased as number of problem substances increased (Kruskal-Wallis χ2 = 70.57, df = 2, p < 0.001, rS = –0.163, p < 0.001). Living arrangement was also significant (Kruskal-Wallis χ2 = 146.36, df = 8, p < 0.001); clients who were homeless had the lowest ARC scores. A number of personal and environmental covariates were associated with the ARC scores and potentially with the outcome. After adjustment, the ARC remained a strong predictor of SAT completion. The ARC should be used in SAT facilities to guide treatment decisions and to create individualized treatment plans for clients.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse: the Role of Economic Insecurity.

Objectives: We evaluate the extent to which subjective and objective measures of economic distress account for differences in substance abuse between the mid-1990s and early-2010s. Methods: We use cross-sectional survey data for national samples of Americans aged 25-74 in 1995-96 (N = 3034) and 2011-14 (N = 2598). Using a logit model, we regress dichotomous indicators of drug and alcohol abuse on economic distress. Results: After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, the odds of drug abuse in the early-2010s among older individuals (aged 50+) were 2.9 times (95%CI 1.9-4.2) those of the mid-1990s, but there was no statistically significant period difference in drug abuse among younger individuals. Measures of model performance demonstrate that subjective measures of economic distress are better predictors of drug abuse than objective measures. The subjective measures also account for a larger share (26%) of the increase in drug abuse at ages 50+ than the objective measures (6%). We cannot draw clear conclusions regarding alcohol abuse because results are sensitive to specification. Conclusions: The rise in drug abuse among midlife Americans may relate to perceived economic distress that is not captured by standard economic measures.

Effects of Behavioral Activation/Inhibition Systems as Predictors of Substance Abuse in Bipolar Patients

Background: Recently, more evidence has been presented regarding the role of behavioral activation/inhibition systems as predictors of substance use disorders. In fact, these systems are regarded as potentially important factors in the development of this complex psychiatric problem. Objectives: This study aimed to determine how behavioral activation/inhibition systems, namely behavioral activation, behavioral inhibition, and fight-flight freezing systems, affect substance abuse in bipolar patients. Methods: A total of 79 patients with bipolar disorder were selected among hospitalized patients in the psychiatric ward of Kamkar-Arabnia Hospital in Qom, Iran. The participants completed the Gray-Wilson personality questionnaire, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Mood Disorder Questionnaire, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Results: Behavioral activation and behavioral inhibition systems emerged as significant predictors of substance abuse in bipolar patients (χ2 = 52.511; df = 3; P < 0.0005). Gender and type of bipolar disorder (I or II) showed no significant association with the scores of behavioral activation, behavioral inhibition, or fight-flight freezing systems. Also, the behavioral inhibition system scores could predict manic mood (χ2 = 7.067; df = 3; P < 0.070). Conclusions: The findings of the current study provide further evidence regarding the role of behavioral activation and inhibition systems as predictors of substance abuse in bipolar patients.

Predictors of substance abuse among risky drivers: The role of personality characteristics and mental health.

BACKGROUND:Regarding the high prevalence of substance abuse and its serious complications, the necessity of assessing factors assuming to make tendency toward substance abuse is justifiable.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The statistical population consisted of all car drivers referred to traffic department in 2015 in Kermanshah. In this descriptive study of correlation type, 846 risky drivers from referrals to traffic department were randomly selected. Data were analyzed through NEO personality inventory, general health questionnaire, and discriminant analysis.RESULTS:Discriminant analysis was used to analyze data. Standard coefficients of discriminant function revealed that depression, social functionality, physical symptoms, neurosis, and anxiety symptoms were of the highest role in discriminant function while agreeableness and conscientiousness had the least role in discriminant function and its success. The discriminant analysis also showed that linear combination of above variables is able to explain about 75.5% of variance of difference between two groups (P < 0.0001).CONCLUSIONS:Regarding the results of this study, it is proposed that the role of personality characteristics as well as mental health in tendency toward substance abuse could be appreciated and included in preventive and treatment programs held for people with methamphetamine abuse.

PARENTING STYLES AS PREDICTORS OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG SELECTED PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN EMBU COUNTY, KENYA

The role of parents in helping their children to face the adolescence challenges and specifically the challenge of drug abuse cannot be underestimated; however, the extent to which parenting styles predetermine secondary school students’ involvement in drugs is not well understood. This study investigated parenting styles, as predictors of drug abuse among public secondary school students in Embu County, Kenya. A population of 8820 (4886 girls and 3934 boys) form two and three students distributed in 132 public secondary schools in Embu County was targeted. Purposive sampling was used to select a sample of 15 schools which had reported more cases of drug abuse for the last three years in the county. Stratified random sampling and systematic random sampling were used to select 399 participants (221 girls and 178 boys). Purposive sampling was used to select 15 Guidance and counseling teachers and 70 secondary school dropouts from the 15 schools. Reliability for the parenting styles questionnaires and risky behaviours were calculated an average Cronbach alpha (α) of α = 0.82 for parenting styles questionnaires was reported and for risky behaviours α = 0.78. Multiple linear regression showed that parenting styles significantly predict drug abuse among secondary school students, and that parenting styles accounts for, 64.4% (R 2 =0.644, p< 0.05) of students’ drug abuse, The study, therefore, recommends that the government through the Ministry of Education should train the teacher counselor, to identify and counsel drug abusing students and train parents on how to handle drug abusive children Article visualizations:

Machine Learning of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Network Connectivity Predicts Substance Abuse Treatment Completion

BackgroundSuccessfully treating illicit drug use has become paramount, yet elusive. Devising specialized treatment interventions could increase positive outcomes, but it is necessary to identify risk factors of poor long-term outcomes to develop specialized, efficacious treatments. We investigated whether functional network connectivity (FNC) measures were predictive of substance abuse treatment completion using machine learning pattern classification of functional magnetic resonance imaging data. MethodsTreatment-seeking stimulant- or heroin-dependent incarcerated participants (n = 139; 89 women) volunteered for a 12-week substance abuse treatment program. Participants performed a response inhibition Go/NoGo functional magnetic resonance imaging task prior to onset of the substance abuse treatment. We tested whether FNC related to the anterior cingulate cortex would be predictive of those who would or would not complete a 12-week substance abuse treatment program. ResultsMachine learning pattern classification models using FNC between networks incorporating the anterior cingulate cortex, striatum, and insula predicted which individuals would (sensitivity: 81.31%) or would not (specificity: 78.13%) complete substance abuse treatment. FNC analyses predicted treatment completion above and beyond other clinical assessment measures, including age, sex, IQ, years of substance use, psychopathy, anxiety and depressive symptomatology, and motivation for change. ConclusionsAberrant neural network connections predicted substance abuse treatment outcomes, which could illuminate new targets for developing interventions designed to reduce or eliminate substance use while facilitating long-term outcomes. This work represents the first application of machine-learning models of FNC analyses of functional magnetic resonance imaging data to predict which substance abusers would or would not complete treatment.