Abstract
Background: Nonmedical use of opioids has become increasingly problematic in recent years with increases in overdoses, treatment admissions, and deaths. Use also appears to be contributing to heroin initiation, which has increased in recent years. Further research is needed to examine which adolescents are at highest risk for nonmedical use of opioids and heroin and to explore potential links between nonmedical opioid use and heroin use. Methods: Data were analyzed from a nationally representative sample of American high school seniors in the Monitoring the Future study (2009-2013, Weighted N = 67,822). We examined associations between frequency and recency of nonmedical use of opioids and heroin. Sociodemographic correlates of use of each drug were also examined. Results: 12.4% of students reported lifetime nonmedical opioid use and 1.2% reported lifetime heroin use. As frequency of lifetime nonmedical opioid use increased, so too did the odds for reporting heroin use, with over three-quarters (77.3%) of heroin users reporting lifetime nonmedical opioid use. Recent (30-day) nonmedical opioid use was a robust risk factor for heroin use and almost a quarter (23.2%) of students who reported using opioids ≥40 times reported lifetime heroin use. Black and Hispanic students were less likely to report nonmedical opioid or heroin use than white students, but they were more likely to report heroin use in absence of nonmedical opioid use. Discussion: Recent and frequent nonmedical opioid use are risk factors for heroin use among adolescents. Prevention needs to be targeted to those at highest risk.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 132-138 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Drug and Alcohol Dependence |
| Volume | 158 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2016 |
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Keywords
- Adolescents
- Analgesics
- Heroin
- Nonmedical drug use
- Opioids
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacology (medical)
Cite this
Nonmedical opioid use and heroin use in a nationally representative sample of us high school seniors. / Palamar, Joseph J.; Shearston, Jenni A.; Dawson, Eric W.; Mateu-Gelabert, Pedro; Ompad, Danielle C.
In: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Vol. 158, 01.01.2016, p. 132-138.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Nonmedical opioid use and heroin use in a nationally representative sample of us high school seniors
AU - Palamar, Joseph J.
AU - Shearston, Jenni A.
AU - Dawson, Eric W.
AU - Mateu-Gelabert, Pedro
AU - Ompad, Danielle C.
PY - 2016/1/1
Y1 - 2016/1/1
N2 - Background: Nonmedical use of opioids has become increasingly problematic in recent years with increases in overdoses, treatment admissions, and deaths. Use also appears to be contributing to heroin initiation, which has increased in recent years. Further research is needed to examine which adolescents are at highest risk for nonmedical use of opioids and heroin and to explore potential links between nonmedical opioid use and heroin use. Methods: Data were analyzed from a nationally representative sample of American high school seniors in the Monitoring the Future study (2009-2013, Weighted N = 67,822). We examined associations between frequency and recency of nonmedical use of opioids and heroin. Sociodemographic correlates of use of each drug were also examined. Results: 12.4% of students reported lifetime nonmedical opioid use and 1.2% reported lifetime heroin use. As frequency of lifetime nonmedical opioid use increased, so too did the odds for reporting heroin use, with over three-quarters (77.3%) of heroin users reporting lifetime nonmedical opioid use. Recent (30-day) nonmedical opioid use was a robust risk factor for heroin use and almost a quarter (23.2%) of students who reported using opioids ≥40 times reported lifetime heroin use. Black and Hispanic students were less likely to report nonmedical opioid or heroin use than white students, but they were more likely to report heroin use in absence of nonmedical opioid use. Discussion: Recent and frequent nonmedical opioid use are risk factors for heroin use among adolescents. Prevention needs to be targeted to those at highest risk.
AB - Background: Nonmedical use of opioids has become increasingly problematic in recent years with increases in overdoses, treatment admissions, and deaths. Use also appears to be contributing to heroin initiation, which has increased in recent years. Further research is needed to examine which adolescents are at highest risk for nonmedical use of opioids and heroin and to explore potential links between nonmedical opioid use and heroin use. Methods: Data were analyzed from a nationally representative sample of American high school seniors in the Monitoring the Future study (2009-2013, Weighted N = 67,822). We examined associations between frequency and recency of nonmedical use of opioids and heroin. Sociodemographic correlates of use of each drug were also examined. Results: 12.4% of students reported lifetime nonmedical opioid use and 1.2% reported lifetime heroin use. As frequency of lifetime nonmedical opioid use increased, so too did the odds for reporting heroin use, with over three-quarters (77.3%) of heroin users reporting lifetime nonmedical opioid use. Recent (30-day) nonmedical opioid use was a robust risk factor for heroin use and almost a quarter (23.2%) of students who reported using opioids ≥40 times reported lifetime heroin use. Black and Hispanic students were less likely to report nonmedical opioid or heroin use than white students, but they were more likely to report heroin use in absence of nonmedical opioid use. Discussion: Recent and frequent nonmedical opioid use are risk factors for heroin use among adolescents. Prevention needs to be targeted to those at highest risk.
KW - Adolescents
KW - Analgesics
KW - Heroin
KW - Nonmedical drug use
KW - Opioids
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84952636821&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84952636821&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.11.005
DO - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.11.005
M3 - Article
VL - 158
SP - 132
EP - 138
JO - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
JF - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
SN - 0376-8716
ER -