Is there a progression from abuse disorders to dependence disorders?

Abstract

Background: Recent studies suggest that a progression occurs from alcohol abuse to alcohol dependence. Although DSM-IV criteria for all substance use-related diagnoses are based largely on the alcohol dependence syndrome, progression from abuse to dependence might not generalize to other substances.

Aims: This study tested whether a progression from DSM-IV abuse to dependence occurs related to the use of cannabis, cocaine and opiates.

Design: Retrospective data from the DSM-IV Substance Use Disorders Work Group (n = 1226) were reanalysed using McNemar's chi2, configural frequency analyses and survival analyses. Participants were men and women who were primarily African-Americans or Caucasians.

Settings: Participants were recruited from community and clinical settings. The measure was the Composite International Diagnostic Interview-Substance Abuse Module.

Findings: For all substances, life-time dependence in the absence of life-time abuse was rare. Results were consistent with a progression occurring for alcohol and cannabis, but not for cocaine and opiates. Abuse and dependence occurred in the same year for 66% of the cocaine users who experienced both disorders (57% of users with any cocaine disorder) and 65% of the opiate users who experienced both disorders (46% of users with any opiate disorder). Because cocaine and opiate dependence in the absence of abuse were rare, it is possible that progressions in cocaine and opiate disorders occur more rapidly than cannabis and alcohol.

Conclusions: Research is needed to clarify the mechanisms that influence progressions of substance use disorders. Potential factors leading to between-drug variation in rate of progression of disorders are discussed.