Rates Of Prescription Drug Misuse Research Articles

Pandemic-Related Changes in the Prevalence of Early Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Use, 2020–2021: Data From a Multisite Cohort Study

PurposeEvaluate changes in early adolescent substance use from May 2020 to May 2021 during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic using data from a prospective nationwide cohort: the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. MethodsIn 2018–2019, 9,270 youth aged 11.5–13.0 completed a prepandemic assessment of past-month alcohol and drug use, then up to seven during-pandemic assessments between May 2020 and May 2021. We compared the prevalence of substance use among same-age youth across these eight timepoints. ResultsPandemic-related decreases in the past-month prevalence of alcohol use were detectable in May 2020, grew larger over time, and remained substantial in May 2021 (0.3% vs. 3.2% prepandemic, p <.001). Pandemic-related increases in inhalant use (p = .04) and prescription drug misuse (p < .001) were detectable in May 2020, shrunk over time, and were smaller but still detectable in May 2021(0.1%-0.2% vs. 0% pre-pandemic). Pandemic-related increases in nicotine use were detectable between May 2020 and March 2021 and no longer significantly different from prepandemic levels in May 2021 (0.5% vs. 0.2% prepandemic, p = .09). There was significant heterogeneity in pandemic-related change in substance use at some timepoints, with increased rates among youth identified as Black or Hispanic or in lower-income families versus stable or decreased rates among youth identified as White or in higher-income families. DiscussionAmong youth ages 11.5–13.0 years old, rates of alcohol use remained dramatically reduced in May 2021 relative to prepandemic and rates of prescription drug misuse and inhalant use remained modestly increased. Differences remained despite the partial restoration of prepandemic life, raising questions about whether youth who spent early adolescence under pandemic conditions may exhibit persistently different patterns of substance use.

Prescription drug and alcohol simultaneous co-ingestion in U.S. young adults: Prevalence and correlates.

Simultaneous co-ingestion of prescription medication (e.g., opioid, tranquilizer/sedative, stimulant) and alcohol is associated with overdose and elevated substance use, but no studies have examined prescription drug misuse (PDM) and alcohol co-ingestion in U.S. young adults (18-25 years), despite the high rates of PDM in this age group. We used the 2015-19 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (young adult N = 69,916) to examine prevalence of past-month PDM-alcohol co-ingestion, PDM characteristics, and sociodemographic, physical health, mental health, and substance use correlates. Logistic regression examined correlates, comparing those without past-year PDM, those with past-year but not past-month PDM, those with past-month PDM without alcohol co-ingestion, and those with past-month PDM and alcohol co-ingestion. An estimated 585,000 young adults engaged in any past-month PDM-alcohol co-ingestion, or between 32.7% (opioids) and 44.6% (tranquilizer/sedatives) of those who were engaged in past-month PDM. Co-ingestion varied by educational status and was more common in males and white or multiracial young adults. All PDM-involved groups had elevated odds of suicidal ideation and other psychopathology, but substance use and substance use disorder (SUD) odds were significantly higher in young adults with co-ingestion, versus all other groups. To illustrate, 41.1% with opioid-alcohol co-ingestion had multiple past-year SUDs, versus 2.0% in those without past-year PDM. Young adults with co-ingestion are particularly likely to have problematic alcohol use and higher rates of SUD. Counseling about the risks of PDM-alcohol co-ingestion and screening for co-ingestion among those at risk are warranted to limit poor outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Family history of substance use disorder and likelihood of prescription drug misuse in adults 50 and older

Objective Individuals who are family history positive (FHP) for substance use problems have increased risk for substance use, substance use disorders (SUDs), and psychopathology. Links between FHP status and prescription drug misuse (PDM) have not been well investigated; this study examined PDM in adults 50 and older by FHP status. Methods Data were from the US NESARC-III (n = 14,667). Participants reported their opioid PDM, tranquilizer/sedative PDM, SUD, psychopathology, and family history status (i.e. first- and second-degree relatives with alcohol/substance use problems). Prevalence rates were estimated by FHP status, and logistic regressions compared FHP and family history negative (FHN) groups. Results FHP status was associated with significantly higher rates of PDM (e.g. past-year opioid PDM, FHP: 3.8%, FHN: 1.5%) and SUD from PDM (e.g. past-year SUD, FHP: 1.2%, FHN: 0.2%); also, prevalence varied by family history density, with the highest rates in those with three or more relatives with substance use problems (e.g. past-year opioid PDM: 5.5%). Overall, 32.2% of FHP individuals with past-year PDM had past-year co-occurring SUD and psychopathology diagnoses, versus 11.0% of FHN individuals. Conclusion FHP status could inform treatment decisions in adults 50 and older with conditions for which prescription opioids or tranquilizer/sedatives are indicated.

Understanding differences in prescription drug misuse between two Texas border communities

ABSTRACT Objectives: The misuse of prescription drugs in the U.S. is an alarming public health crisis. Prior research at the U.S.-Mexico border has found high rates of prescription drug misuse, but with rates varying significantly across border communities. We aimed to examine a model of permissive climate measures and stress exposures as potential mediators of community differences in prescription drug misuse at the U.S.-Mexico border. Design: We analyzed data from the U.S.-Mexico Study of Alcohol and Related Conditions (UMSARC). Household, in-person interviews were conducted with Mexican-origin residents of the Texas border cities Laredo (n = 751) and Brownsville/McAllen (n = 814). Interviews assessed past-year misuse of any and pain-reliever prescription drugs. Drug availability, neighborhood safety, exposure to violence/crime, and social support were examined as potential mediators. Analyses were stratified by gender and employed regressions and mediation analysis with Mplus. Results: The past-year prevalence of any prescription drug misuse in Laredo was 26.3% among women and 24.4% among men, and in Brownsville/McAllen was 12.4% among men, and 6.7% among women. Mediation analysis revealed site effects via some of the hypothesized risk factors for men, but not for women. Specifically, for men, site effects on any and pain reliever prescription drug misuse were partially mediated via high drug availability and low family support. Conclusions: Past-year prescription drug misuse was over 3 times the 2015 national prevalence among both men and women in Laredo and calls for immediate attention. Findings regarding the model suggest drug availability and social support may be relevant to understanding community differences in prescription drug misuse among men living at the border, and that additional factors should be investigated to understand misuse among women living at the border.

Transnational trends in prescription drug misuse among women: A systematic review

Prescription drug misuse (PDM) has been on the rise since early 2000 and is now an international epidemic. Prescription drugs are easily accessible and perceived as less harmful, yet can lead to addiction and death. Women represent half of the world’s population and pose a unique risk for PDM, including a greater burden of addiction and relapse. Despite this, no identified studies have methodically reviewed the literature exploring PDM among adult women. The authors searched four EBSCOhost and World Health Organization (WHO) Global Index Medicus databases and identified 93 articles (88 vs. five respectively). Studies with data on the prevalence and correlates of PDM among women around the globe were included. In the EBSCOhost search, over 40% of the studies were secondary data analyses and nearly two-thirds (63.6%) examined opioid analgesics (similar results found in WHO articles). Women were represented in a fraction of all PDM studies yet in over a half (56.1%) of the selected studies, women abused one or more prescription drugs at equal rates or higher than men. For ethnicity, 21 studies reported that White women had higher rates of PDM than other ethnicities and 13 found no differences. Nearly all of the studies (90%) that examined problematic physical and mental health correlates found significant associations. The findings suggest that clinicians may need more inclusive and broaden their consideration of risk for PDM. As prescriptions become more readily available around the world, PDM research should be more representative and monitor unique risk and protective factors among women to better inform prevention and intervention efforts.

Personality and prescription drug use/misuse among first year undergraduates

Emerging adults (18–25 year olds) endorse the highest rates of prescription drug misuse. Attending college or university may confer additional risk. Previous research suggests that personality is an important predictor of many addictive behaviours. Four traits have been consistently implicated: anxiety sensitivity, hopelessness, sensation seeking, and impulsivity. Published studies on personality as a predictor of prescription drug abuse are limited, however, by a primary focus on overall prescription drug use, inconsistent operationalisation of misuse, and failure to control for alcohol use. Sample sizes have been small and non-specific. We sought to better understand how personality predicted the overall use, the medically-sanctioned use, and the misuse of prescription sedatives/tranquilizers, opioids, and stimulants. A large (N = 1755) sample of first year Canadian undergraduate students (mean age = 18.6 years; 68.9% female) was used. We predicted that: anxiety sensitivity would be related to sedatives/tranquilizers, hopelessness to opioids, sensation seeking to stimulants, and impulsivity to all three. Save for the impulsivity to opioid use path, predictions were fully supported in our “any use” model. For medically-sanctioned use: anxiety sensitivity predicted sedative/tranquilizers, hopelessness predicted opioids, and impulsivity predicted stimulants. For misuse: anxiety sensitivity (marginally) predicted sedatives/tranquilizers, sensation seeking predicted stimulants, and impulsivity predicted all three. Our models support using personality-matched interventions. Specifically, results suggest targeting anxiety sensitivity for sedative/tranquilizer misuse, sensation seeking for stimulant misuse, and impulsivity for unconstrained prescription drug misuse. Interventions with early coping skills that pertain to all four traits might be useful for preventing prescription drug uptake and later misuse.

Heroin Use and Drug Injection among Youth Also Misusing Prescription Drugs.

We identified the prevalence of nonmedical prescription drug use and its relationship to heroin and injection drug use in 4 nationally representative samples of adolescents. We used the most recent data (2009-2015) from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (Ntotal= 61,132). Prevalence rates and 95% confidence intervals for prescription drug misuse, heroin use, and injection drug use were calculated across time points, sex, and race/ethnicity subgroups. Using odds ratios, we determined the likelihood of youth reporting nonmedical prescription drug use also reporting heroin and drug injection. In 2015, one in 6 adolescents reported recent prescription drug misuse. High rates of nonmedical prescription drug use persisted or increased among Hispanic boys, black boys, and "other" youth, while declining among white youth. Youth who used prescription drugs nonmedically at least once were 17.5 times more likely to have used heroin (CI: 13.7, 22.4) and 14.6 times more likely to have injected drugs (CI: 11.2, 19.2) in their lifetime. Public health programming focused on reducing prescription drug misuse also may reduce youth engagement in heroin and/or injection drug use. Preventive efforts to support communities of color in reducing rates of prescription drug misuse are crucial.

SY15-4 * PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS IN SOUTHERN EUROPE: FRANCE

Background. Prescription opioid misuse in an increasing public health in many countries. The objective is to assess the prevalence of prescription opioid misuse in four European countries. Data from France are presented. Methods. Cross-sectional study. The rates of prescription drug misuse have been assessed using patient self-report at treatment program intake. Patients have been asked to self-report the use of use and injection history for European-market prescription opioids, prescription stimulants, and heroin, during the past 30-day. Also, basic demographic information, treatment history, and health care worker status have been recorded. Results. In France, a final sample of 144 subjects (77% males; 38,9years old) was recruited. The were 62,5% in treatment for heroin dependence; the rest (7) has as a main drug buprenorphine, codeine, methadone, morphine, fentanyl and tramadol. The main opioid abused drug during the last month was heroin, followed by buprenorphine, codeine, methadone and morphine. Those previously in treatment endorsed significantly less drugs, and less past 30-day use of buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is the preferred first line medication for French opioid rehabilitation patients. Conclusions. Preliminary data show that besides heroin, there is a concomitant abuse of prescription opioids. The knowledge of drug use patterns can provide useful information to develop effective prevention and treatment.

SY15-3 * PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS IN SOUTHERN EUROPE: SPAIN

Background. Prescription opioid misuse in an increasing public health in many countries. The objective is to assess the prevalence of prescription opioid misuse in four European countries: France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Data form Sapin are presented Methods. Cross-sectional study. The rates of prescription drug misuse have been assessed using patient self-report at treatment program intake. Patients have been asked to self-report the use of use and injection history for European-market prescription opioids, prescription stimulants, and heroin, during the past 30-day. Also, basic demographic information, treatment history, and health care worker status have been recorded. Results. In Spain, a final sample of 125 subjects (78% males; 39 + 10 years old) was recruited. The 94% were in treatment for heroin dependence; the rest (7) has as a main drug methadone, tramadol, codeine, pethidine and opium. The main opioid abused drug during the last month was heroin (63%), followed by methadone, tramadol, codeine, pethidine, fentanyl, buprenorphine, morphine and metylphenidate. Conclusions. Preliminary data show that besides heroin, in Spain, there is a concomitant abuse of prescription opioids. The knowledge of drug use patterns can provide useful information to develop effective prevention and treatment.

Ethnic/Racial differences in peer and parent influence on adolescent prescription drug misuse.

To describe ethnic/racial group differences in prescription drug misuse within a nationally representative sample of US adolescents. Also to identify potential sociocultural influences on this health risk behavior. A secondary data analysis was conducted on the public-use data of the 2010 National Survey of Drug Use and Health using the records of 12- to 17-year-old African American, Hispanic, and white participants (N = 18,614). Logistic and Poisson regression analyses focused on examining the predictive role of perceived parental and peer substance use disapproval on adolescents' prescription drug misuse and how these social influences varied by ethnic group. Within this sample, 10.4% of adolescents endorsed misusing 1 or more subtypes of prescription drugs. The results showed significant ethnic group differences in rates of prescription drug misuse such that white adolescents reported the highest rates and African American adolescents reported the lowest rates of prescription drug misuse. Rates of misuse for Hispanic adolescents fell in between. Importantly, perceived parental and peer substance use disapproval decreased the likelihood of prescription drug misuse most significantly among white adolescents compared to Hispanic and African American adolescents. Furthermore, influence of disapproval differed by the type of substance, indicating ethnic group differences in disapproval, such as views of alcohol versus marijuana use. These findings provide new ethnic group-specific information about the role that the attitudes of peers and parents on substance use may play in whether adolescents misuse prescription drugs. Future studies should explore possible parent/peer-related socialization mechanisms, which may account for these ethnic group differences.

Prescription Drug Misuse Among Antisocial Youths

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and correlates of nonmedical prescription drug misuse (PDM) in a state population of youths in residential care for antisocial behavior. Interviews assessing substance use, psychiatric symptoms, antisocial traits/behavior, and traumatic life experiences were conducted with 723 Missouri youths. Participants were predominantly male (87.0%), averaged 15.5 (SD = 1.2) years of age, and constituted 97.7% of the service population sampled. Overall, 314 youths (43.4%) reported lifetime PDM; 33.7%, 32.0%, and 11.2% had misused prescription opioids, tranquilizers, and barbiturates, respectively. Prescription drug misusers were significantly older, and larger proportions were girls, were White, and resided in small towns, compared with non-prescription drug misusers. Prescription drug misusers evidenced significantly more varied, frequent, and problematic psychoactive drug use; evidenced higher levels of distressing psychiatric symptoms; and were nearly twice as likely to have been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, compared with non-prescription drug misusers. Traumatic life events, experiences of criminal victimization, and suicidal ideation were significantly more prevalent in the histories of prescription drug misusers, compared with non-prescription drug misusers. In multiple logistic regression models, older age; White racial status; prior inhalant, marijuana, and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) use; residence in a small town; and impulsivity were associated with increased risk for PDM. Adolescents in residential care for antisocial behavior have high rates of PDM, as well as comorbid psychiatric and behavioral problems. Youths served in institutional settings should be routinely screened and treated for PDM and co-occurring disorders.

Substance abuse in the United States: Findings from recent epidemiologic studies

Recent research on the epidemiology of substance use disorders (SUDs) has provided important insights into these conditions and their impact on public health. In the United States, annual surveys of drug use in household and school populations serve as one of the primary sources of information about the distribution of illicit drug use. This research has demonstrated continued shifts in trends in illicit drug use in the United States and called attention to rising rates of prescription drug misuse and abuse. Findings have also continued to highlight the substantial comorbidity of SUDs with other psychiatric disorders and with the ongoing HIV epidemic. Building on these foundations, future challenges for research in substance abuse epidemiology will include using novel methodologic approaches to further unravel the complex interrelationships that link individual vulnerabilities for SUDs, including genetic factors, with social and environmental risk factors.