Addictive behaviors
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Addictive behaviors · Nov 2012
Initiation into prescription drug misuse: differences between lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and heterosexual high-risk young adults in Los Angeles and New York.
Prescription drug misuse is an important public health problem in the U.S., particularly among adolescents and young adults. Few studies have examined factors contributing to initiation into prescription drug misuse, including sexual orientation and childhood abuse and neglect. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship between initiation into the misuse of prescription drugs (opioids, tranquilizers, and stimulants), sexual identity, and individual and family determinants. ⋯ The correlates of initiation into prescription drug misuse are multidimensional and offer opportunities for further research. Identifying additional factors contributing to initiation into prescription drug misuse is essential towards developing interventions that may reduce future drug use among young adults.
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Addictive behaviors · Nov 2012
Pain depression and sleep disorders among methadone maintenance treatment patients.
The success of rehabilitation is not influenced solely by drug abstinence, but also by the state of general health and well-being, which for patients in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) frequently is compromised by experiencing pain, depression and sleep disorders. Accordingly, this study sought to (1) characterize clusters of MMT patients who experienced different levels of these symptoms and (2) examine the association between these clusters and quality of life (QOL) measures. ⋯ Successful rehabilitation will necessitate interventions that target MMT patients with high levels of pain, depression and sleep disorders. To the best of our knowledge this study was innovative in its approach to identify the presence of this high risk group by using cluster methodology in the MMT population.