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Multicenter Study
. 2010 Apr;105(4):686-98.
doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02829.x.

The added risk of opioid problem use among treatment-seeking youth with marijuana and/or alcohol problem use

Geetha A Subramaniam  1 , Melissa L Ives, Maxine L Stitzer, Michael L Dennis
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

The added risk of opioid problem use among treatment-seeking youth with marijuana and/or alcohol problem use

Geetha A Subramaniam et al. Addiction. 2010 Apr.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the added risk of opioid problem use (OPU) in youth with marijuana/alcohol problem use (MAPU).

Methods: A total of 475 youth (ages 14-21 years) with OPU + MAPU were compared to a weighted sample of 475 youth with MAPU only (i.e. no OPU) before and after propensity score matching on gender, age, race, level of care and weekly use of marijuana/alcohol. Youth were recruited from 88 drug treatment sites participating in eight Center for Substance Abuse Treatment-funded grants. At treatment intake, participants were administered the Global Appraisal of Individual Need to elicit information on demographic, social, substance, mental health, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), physical and legal characteristics. Odds ratios with confidence intervals were calculated.

Results: The added risk of OPU among MAPU youth was associated with greater comorbidity; higher rates of psychiatric symptoms and trauma/victimization; greater needle use and sex-related HIV risk behaviours; and greater physical distress. The OPU + MAPU group was less likely to be African American or other race and more likely to be aged 15-17 years, Caucasian; report weekly drug use at home and among peers; engage in illegal behaviors and be confined longer; have greater substance abuse severity and polydrug use; and use mental health and substance abuse treatment services.

Conclusions: These findings expand upon the existing literature and highlight the substantial incremental risk of OPU on multiple comorbid areas among treatment-seeking youth. Further evaluation is needed to assess their outcomes following standard drug treatment and to evaluate specialized interventions for this subgroup of severely impaired youth.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: Dr. Subramaniam received salary support from Mountain Manor Treatment Center, Baltimore, MD. Dr. Stitzer receives funding from Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Inc. to conduct an investigator-generated research project that involves Chantix. Dr. Dennis is the director of the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs (GAIN) Coordinating Center (GCC) and Ms. Ives works at the GCC.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Number of Major Clinical Problems* in the Past Year by Group * Count of 11 past year problems endorsed in tables 1 to 3: cannabis use disorder, alcohol use disorder, cocaine use disorder, amphetamine use disorder, other substance use disorder, any internalizing disorder, any externalizing disorder, physical sexual or emotional victimization, needle use risk, moderate/high sexual risk, moderate/high health problem.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding