Racial And Ethnic Trends & Correlates of Non-Medical Use of Prescription Opioids among Adolescents in the United States 2004-2013
PURPOSE:
Our
objective was to elucidate the trends in non-medical use of prescription
opioids (NMUPO) among whites, African-Americans, and Hispanic adolescents in
the United States. An additional aim was to examine the sociodemographic,
behavioral, and psychosocial correlates of NMUPO across each of these
aforementioned racial and ethnic groups.
METHODS:
Data was derived
from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) involving non-Hispanic
white, African American, and Hispanic respondents ages 12-17
(n = 164,028) and spanning the years 2004-2013. Consistent with prior
NSDUH-based studies, respondents reporting use within the previous 12 months
were classified as nonmedical prescription opioid users. Logistic regression
was used to examine significance of trend year and correlates of NMUPO.
RESULTS:
Non-Hispanic
white youth consistently reported higher levels of NMUPO as did older
adolescents (ages 15-17) and females. However, there was a decrease in the
prevalence of NMUPO overall driven largely by a significant decline
(p < 0.001) in NMUPO among non-Hispanic whites of approximately
35% over the study period such that by 2013 no statistically significant
differences across race/ethnicity remained. Further, logistic regression models
found that externalizing behaviors such as comorbid drug use and fighting was
associated with NMUPO and religiosity and parental involvement were identified
as protective correlates.
CONCLUSIONS:
To
our knowledge, this is the first study to identify a declining trend in NMUPO
among adolescents. Although the present study findings provide a source for
optimism, there is still a relatively high prevalence of NMUPO and it remains
to be seen whether our findings portend a long-term decline. Given the harm
done by NMUPO, continued awareness and targeted prevention efforts should be
implemented.
- 1School of Social Work, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Tegeler Hall, 3550 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63103, United States. Electronic address: mvaughn9@slu.edu.
- 2College for Public Health and Social Justice, 3545 Lafayette Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63104, United States. Electronic address: nelsonej@slu.edu.
- 3School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin, 1925 San Jacinto Blvd D3500, Austin, TX 78712-0358, United States. Electronic address: salaswright@utexas.edu.
- 4College for Public Health and Social Justice, 3545 Lafayette Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63104, United States.
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