• Robert G Carlson, Ramzi W Nahhas, Raminta Daniulaityte, Silvia S Martins, Linna Li, and Russel Falck.
• Center for Interventions, Treatment, and Addiction Research, Department of Community Health, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH 45435, United States. Electronic address: robert.carlson@wright.edu.
• Drug Alcohol Depend. 2014 Jan 1; 134: 259-66.

BackgroundIncreases in non-medical use of pharmaceutical opioids in the U.S. have resulted in increases in opioid dependence and unintentional overdose deaths. We characterize heterogeneity in opioid use patterns among a community-based sample of 18-23 year-olds who use non-medical pharmaceutical opioids, yet are not opioid dependent.MethodsRespondent-driven sampling recruited 390 participants. Latent class analysis stratified by racial/ethnic group identified subgroups of non-medical opioid users based on: six-month frequency of use; number of opioid disorder criteria; oral vs. non-oral administration; number of types of opioids used; use of CNS depressants while under using opioids; and reason for opioid use. Multinomial logistic regression estimated the significance of covariates in predicting class membership.ResultsWithin whites and non-white groups, three classes emerged that were, generally, hierarchically ordered with respect to negative characteristics associated with non-medical opioid use. Within each group, the class with the least negative characteristics also had the highest proportion of individuals who use opioids only to self-medicate a health problem. Within each group's three classes, a larger proportion who had ≥ 2 opioid abuse and dependence disorder criteria always coincided with a larger proportion who use opioids ≥ 3 days per week, a larger proportion who used CNS depressants while under the influence of opioids, and a smaller proportion who used opioids only to self-medicate.ConclusionDifferences in patterns of opioid use within each racial/ethnic group of young people who are not opioid dependent suggest the need for tailored interventions designed to reduce the risk of transition to opioid dependence.Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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