Methamphetamine Use Is Associated with High Levels of Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents & Young Adults in Rural Chiang Mai Province, Thailand
BACKGROUND:
High
levels of depressive symptoms often occur among individuals that use or that
are dependent on methamphetamine (MA). Thailand is currently experiencing an
epidemic of MA use among youth. Understanding the nature of the relationship
between depressive symptoms and MA use and identifying those most at risk can
further understanding of prevention and treatment options for youth who use MA
and present with depressive symptoms.
METHODS:
In 2011,
we conducted a cross sectional epidemiologic study that examined associations
between MA use and high levels of depressive symptoms among adolescents and
young adults aged 14-29 living in Chiang Mai province, Thailand. A combination
of cluster and systematic sampling was conducted to obtain a study sample of
participants actively recruited in Chiang Mai province. Depressive symptoms
were measured using a Thai translation of the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies
Depression scale (CES-D). The independent variables measured reported lifetime
and recent MA use within the past 3 months. Multivariate logistic
regression models were used to assess associations between MA use and high
levels of depressive symptoms.
RESULTS:
Approximately
19 % (n = 394) of the sample reported ever having consumed MA and
31 % (n = 124) of lifetime users reported recent MA use within the past
3 months. Recent MA use was associated with high levels of depressive
symptoms (aPOR recent use: 2.60, 95 % CI: 1.20, 5.63).
CONCLUSIONS:
This
is one of the first studies to examine the association between MA use and high
levels of depressive symptoms in a general Thai population. The odds of having
high levels of depressive symptoms was significantly greater among recent MA
users compared to non-users. These findings support the need for policies,
programs and interventions to prevent and treat depressive symptoms presenting
among MA using Thai adolescents and young adults in rural Chiang Mai province,
Thailand to aid in cessation of MA use. Furthermore, additional research is
needed to investigate treatment options for adolescents and young adults in
Thailand that use MA and present with high levels of depressive symptoms
- 1Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. ldimice1@jhu.edu.
- 2Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. ssherman@jhsph.edu.
- 3Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. apinun@mail.med.cmu.ac.th.
- 4Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. bangorn.s@cmu.ac.th.
- 5Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. dcelent1@jhu.edu.
- BMC Public Health. 2016 Feb 19;16(1):168. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-2851-1.
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