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Gender and non‐medical use of prescription opioids: results from a national US survey *
Author(s) -
Tetrault Jeanette M.,
Desai Rani A.,
Becker William C.,
Fiellin David A.,
Concato John,
Sullivan Lynn E.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.02056.x
Subject(s) - medical prescription , tranquilizer , medicine , prescription drug misuse , psychiatry , polysubstance dependence , odds ratio , substance abuse , odds , family medicine , opioid , logistic regression , opioid use disorder , pharmacology , receptor
Aims Gender differences exist regarding alcohol and illicit drug use disorders in the United States. Little is known about the gender‐related factors associated with non‐medical use of prescription opioids. Design Using data from the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, we examined risk factors for past‐year non‐medical use of prescription opioids stratified by gender. Setting Non‐institutionalized US residences. Participants Civilian, non‐institutionalized US citizens aged 12 years and older. Measurements Self‐reported alcohol and drug use, focusing specifically on past‐year non‐medical use of prescription opioids. Findings Among 55 023 respondents, 4.8% reported past‐year, non‐medical use of prescription opioids. For both women and men, alcohol abuse/dependence and marijuana, hallucinogen, cocaine, non‐medical stimulant and sedative/tranquilizer use were associated with past‐year non‐medical use of prescription opioids. Among women but not men, first use of illicit drugs beginning at 24 years or older [adjusted odds ratios (AOR) 1.90, 95% CI 1.05–3.44], serious mental illness (AOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.29–2.17) and cigarette smoking (AOR 1.33, 95% CI 1.05–1.68) were associated with past‐year non‐medical use of prescription opioids. Among men but not women, past‐year inhalant use (AOR 1.93, 95% CI 1.28–2.92) was associated with the outcome. Conclusions For both women and men, illicit drug use is associated with the non‐medical use of prescription opioids. Additionally, certain factors associated with the non‐medical use of prescription opioids are notably gender‐specific. Clinicians should recognize that patients with a history of illicit substance use or misuse of other prescription medications are at increased risk for non‐medical use of prescription opioids, and that gender‐specific factors can help to identify individuals at greatest risk.