Browsing by keyword "*Street Drugs"

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    • Illicit drug use in young adults and subsequent decline in general health: the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study
      Kertesz, Stefan G.; Pletcher, Mark J.; Safford, Monika M.; Halanych, Jewell H.; Kirk, Katharine; Schumacher, Joseph; Sidney, Stephen; Kiefe, Catarina I. (2006-12-02)
      BACKGROUND: The long-term health consequences of drug use among healthy young adults in the general population are not well described. We assessed whether drug use predicted decline in general self-rated health (GSRH) in a community-based cohort, healthy at baseline. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 3124 young adults (20-32 years old) from four US cities, the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study, was followed from 1987/1988 to 2000/2001. All reported "Good" or better GSRH at baseline, with reassessment in 2000/2001. Drug use in 1987/1988 was as follows: 812 participants were Never Users; 1554 Past Users Only; 503 Current Marijuana Users Only; 255 Current Hard Drug Users (e.g. cocaine, amphetamines, opiates). Analyses measured the association of drug use (1987/1988) with decline to "Fair" or "Poor" GSRH in 2000/2001, adjusting for biological and psychosocial covariates. RESULTS: Reporting health decline were: 7.2% of Never Users; 6.5%, Past Use Only; 7.0%, Current Marijuana Only; 12.6%, Current Hard Drugs (p<0.01). After multivariable adjustment, Current Hard Drug Use in 1987/1988 remained associated with health decline (Odds Ratio (OR), referent Never Use: 1.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-3.12). The health decline associated with Current Hard Drugs appeared to be partly mediated by tobacco smoking in 2000/2001, which independently predicted health decline (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.08-2.50) and weakened the apparent effect of Current Hard Drugs (OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.62-2.36). CONCLUSIONS: Hard drug use in healthy young adults, even when hard drug use stops, is associated with a subsequent decrease in general self-rated health that may be partially explained by persistent tobacco use.

    • Predictors of follow-up health status in the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study (DATOS)
      Friendmann, Peter D.; Lemon, Stephenie C.; Anderson, Bradley J.; Stein, Michael D. (2003-04-14)
      This study examined the predictors of self-reported health status at follow-up in the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcomes Study (DATOS), a longitudinal study of drug abuse treatment programs and patients in 1991-1993. Baseline and follow-up interviews of 2966 patients in 75 programs were performed. The follow-up assessment was targeted to occur 12 months after treatment terminated; long-term methadone patients in treatment for the entire 12-month period were interviewed 24 months after intake. A composite measure, developed through principal component analysis, assessed health status. A multivariate hierarchical linear regression model adjusted for identified independent baseline predictors of health status at follow-up. Poor physical health status (including the composite measure, comorbid conditions and pain) and greater severity of psychiatric symptoms at baseline were the strongest predictors of poor health status at follow-up. Other predictors of worse health status included older age, public insurance coverage and unemployment. We conclude that baseline health status and psychiatric symptoms predict the subsequent health status of patients in substance abuse treatment patients as in other clinical populations. Future research should examine whether early identification and treatment of physical and mental health problems among patients in addiction treatment programs might remediate their adverse effects on long-term health status outcomes.