Recreational drug use in New Zealand

A general population sample of 5126 New Zealanders aged 15-45 was surveyed in late 1990 to determine their use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and other illicit drugs. The results show that alcohol and tobacco are the most commonly used drugs. Cannabis had been tried by 43% of the sample, and this level of use appears similar to that in Australia and the United States. Hallucinogens were the next most common illicit drug and had been tried by 8% of the sample. Again the New Zealand rates appear similar to those for the United States or Australia. Much lower levels of use were reported for stimulants, opiates, tranquillizers and solvents than for other illicit drugs. The New Zealand prevalence rates for these substances are lower than those in the United States. The rates for these other classes of drugs are more similar to Australia, but may be slightly lower for stimulants, tranquillizers and solvents.     

Past 12-month and lifetime comorbidity and poly-drug use of ecstasy users among young adults in the United States: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions

BACKGROUND: Ecstasy use is prevalent among young people and often co-occurs with other drug use, but little is known about the past 12-month and lifetime psychiatric comorbidity and specific additional drug abuse among young adult ecstasy users in the general population. To provide this information, we compared current ecstasy users to former users, other illicit drug users, and non-illicit drug users. METHOD: Data were gathered in a face-to-face survey of the United States conducted in the 2001-2002 (NESARC). Participants were household and group quarters residents aged 18-29 years (n=8666). We measured current ecstasy use defined as any use in the past year; former ecstasy use as use prior to the past year only; other lifetime drug use included any drug other than ecstasy; lifetime non-illicit drug use as no illicit drug use. Associations were determined for nine other classes of illicit drugs, eight personality disorders, and seven mood and anxiety disorders. RESULTS: Of current ecstasy users, 44% used >3 other classes of illicit drugs in the past year, compared to 1.6% of non-ecstasy drug users. Current ecstasy use was associated with current anxiety (OR=3.7), specifically panic disorder (OR=7.7) and specific phobia (OR=4.1), also alcohol abuse (OR=21.6) and dependence (OR=4.1) and any personality disorder (OR=5.1) compared to non-illicit drug users. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate important differences in comorbidities of current and former ecstasy users compared to other drug users and lifetime non-illicit drug users that may affect phenotype definitions and etiologic studies. Ecstasy use may represent a distinct population of drug users for which unique treatments may be necessary.     

Action by the Customs Co-operation Council to combat illicit drug trafficking

Since its establishment in 1953, the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) has been actively involved in combating illicit drug trafficking. CCC has adopted legal measures designed to meet the requirements of member States in their efforts to promote the prevention, investigation and repression of customs offences, including drug smuggling. CCC studies patterns and trends in drug trafficking and promotes ways and means of detecting drug smuggling and financial transactions related to such smuggling. CCC publishes studies and handbooks that serve as practical guides to national customs administrations of member States. In its work to combat drug trafficking, the CCC co-operates with the United Nations bodies concerned with drug control and the International Criminal Police Organizations (ICPO/Interpol).     

Illegal Drug-Using Trends among Students in a Spanish University in the Last Decade (1984-1994)

A sample of 2,086 university students in Valladolid (Spain) were surveyed in 1994 to assess their current use of illicit drugs. That information was used as a baseline to show the trends in the last decade in order to compare two other studies carried out on a similar target population in 1984 and 1990. Of those surveyed, 28.3% had taken some illicit drug within their lifetime, 16.7% in the previous year, and 7.2% in the previous month. Cannabis was the most common illicit drug used in the three levels among these students. 14.2 is the average starting age at which inhalants are used and 19.3 for opiates. 49.8% were opposed to any drug legalization. More than a quarter of the students (28.7%) could be considered as a mental disorder case-finding as measured by Golberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), which was much more relevant among illicit drug users than among nonusers. A decrease in illegal drug use frequency among university students has been observed in the last 10 years.     

Illegal drug-using trends among students in a Spanish university in the last decade (1984-1994).

A sample of 2,086 university students in Valladolid (Spain) were surveyed in 1994 to assess their current use of illicit drugs. That information was used as a baseline to show the trends in the last decade in order to compare two other studies carried out on a similar target population in 1984 and 1990. Of those surveyed, 28.3% had taken some illicit drug within their lifetime, 16.7% in the previous year, and 7.2% in the previous month. Cannabis was the most common illicit drug used in the three levels among these students. 14.2 is the average starting age at which inhalants are used and 19.3 for opiates. 49.8% were opposed to any drug legalization. More than a quarter of the students (28.7%) could be considered as a mental disorder case-finding as measured by Golberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), which was much more relevant among illicit drug users than among nonusers. A decrease in illegal drug use frequency among university students has been observed in the last 10 years.     

Trends in alcohol, drug and cigarette use among Haitian youth in Miami-Dade county, Florida

The objective of this article is to report on prevalence of drug and cigarette use among a segment of Haitian youth in the United States. The article is an argument in favor of contextualizing knowledge about drug use among young people across socioethnic lines. Because initiation of licit and illicit drugs tends to occur during adolescence, ethnic differentiation is crucial if we are to understand the drug experience among young people in the United States. Immigration, acculturation, and identity processes are critical in refuting the conventional racial categorization commonly used for interpretation of risks and behaviors among youth in the United States. The task of bringing empirical evidence to bear on drug use and drug choices by young people from different contexts will lead to the re-examination of patterns of drug use as well as to creative ways of conceptualizing these patterns.     

Epidemiology of substance use in adolescence: prevalence, trends and policy implications.

This paper reviews the epidemiology of substance use among adolescents. There is a public health imperative in all countries to assess the population rates of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use among adolescents. In addition, monitoring trends over time may reflect the net effects of activities and programs carried out to prevent adolescent substance use. School based surveys provide prevalence estimates of substance use, but do not capture street and homeless youth and other high risk adolescents not found in the school environment. Overall, the results of this review suggest that tobacco, hazardous alcohol use, and most categories of illicit drug use have shown consistent increases in prevalence since about 1990 in most developed countries, for school-based adolescents, suggesting that the substance use problem among adolescents remains unsolved. These trends are remarkably similar across substance use behaviours, and among most developed countries, although limited data has emanated from adolescents in the developing world. Interventions to reduce or prevent substance use have shown mixed results, with those focusing on the adolescents' social environment showing the most promise. Broader public health approaches, including the linkage to community-wide prevention, and greater enforcement or regulatory and legislative approaches to tobacco and alcohol access are future directions for research and practice.     

Trends in Alcohol,Drug and Cigarette Use Among Haitian Youth in Miami-Dade County,Florida

Abstract

The objective of this article is to report on prevalence of drug and cigarette use among a segment of Haitian youth in the United States. The article is an argument in favor of contextualizing knowledge about drug use among young people across socioethnic lines. Because initiation of licit and illicit drugs tends to occur during adolescence, ethnic differentiation is crucial if we are to understand the drug experience among young people in the United States. Immigration, acculturation, and identity processes are critical in refuting the conventional racial categorization commonly used for interpretation of risks and behaviors among youth in the United States. The task of bringing empirical evidence to bear on drug use and drug choices by young people from different contexts will lead to the re-examination of patterns of drug use as well as to creative ways of conceptualizing these patterns.     

The Validity of Drug Use Reports from Juvenile Arrestees

Using urine test results as a gold standard, this report evaluates the validity of illicit drug use reports for five illicit substances provided in a multisite, national interview study of juvenile arrestees. Willingness to report substance use varied according to the type of substance, the time frame for substance use reports, and the characteristics of the juveniles asked to provide the reports. Youth were particularly reluctant to disclose recent use of cocaine and heroin. Race/ethnicity and willingness to disclose other substance use were the most important predictors of cocaine use disclosure among those testing positive for this drug. Race/ethnicity differences in validity were evaluated in the context of other recent epidemiological findings from surveys of drug use in the United States. Implications for the measurement of drug use in criminal justice samples are discussed.     

Comparing Injection and Non-Injection Routes of Administration for Heroin,Methamphetamine, and Cocaine Users in the United States

ABSTRACT

Research examining the demographic and substance use characteristics of illicit drug use in the United States has typically failed to consider differences in routes of administration or has exclusively focused on a single route of administration—injection drug use. Data from National Survey on Drug Use and Health were used to compare past-year injection drug users and non-injection drug users' routes of administration of those who use the three drugs most commonly injected in the United States: heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Injection drug users were more likely than those using drugs via other routes to be older (aged 35 and older), unemployed, possess less than a high school education, and reside in rural areas. IDUs also exhibited higher rates of abuse/dependence, perceived need for substance abuse treatment, and co-occurring physical and psychological problems. Fewer differences between IDUs and non-IDUs were observed for heroin users compared with methamphetamine or cocaine users.     

Comparing injection and non-injection routes of administration for heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine users in the United States

Research examining the demographic and substance use characteristics of illicit drug use in the United States has typically failed to consider differences in routes of administration or has exclusively focused on a single route of administration?injection drug use. Data from National Survey on Drug Use and Health were used to compare past-year injection drug users and non-injection drug users' routes of administration of those who use the three drugs most commonly injected in the United States: heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Injection drug users were more likely than those using drugs via other routes to be older (aged 35 and older), unemployed, possess less than a high school education, and reside in rural areas. IDUs also exhibited higher rates of abuse/dependence, perceived need for substance abuse treatment, and co-occurring physical and psychological problems. Fewer differences between IDUs and non-IDUs were observed for heroin users compared with methamphetamine or cocaine users.     

Active and former injection drug users report of HIV risk behaviors during periods of incarceration

American prisons have increasing numbers of inmates incarcerated for drug offenses. This population is at high risk for HIV‐infection and may continue HIV transmission risk behaviors while incarcerated. We find that 31 % of injection drug users with a history of imprisonment had used illicit drugs in prison, and nearly half of these persons had injected drugs while incarcerated. Male gender and number of times incarcerated were associated with drug use in prison. Interventions for drug‐using prisoners that are advocated in some European prisons, such as needle exchange programs and methadone maintenance, need attention in the United States.     

Active and Former Injection Drug Users Report of HIV Risk Behaviors During Periods of Incarceration

American prisons have increasing numbers of inmates incarcerated for drug offenses. This population is at high risk for HIV-infection and may continue HIV transmission risk behaviors while incarcerated. We find that 31% of injection drug users with a history of imprisonment had used illicit drugs in prison, and nearly half of these persons had injected drugs while incarcerated. Male gender and number of times incarcerated were associated with drug use in prison. Interventions for drug-using prisoners that are advocated in some European prisons, such as needle exchange programs and methadone maintenance, need attention in the United States.     

Update: comparison of drug use in Australia and the United States as seen in the 2001 National Household Surveys

This paper updates an earlier article by comparing the results of the 1998 and 2001 household surveys. The Australian survey showed a significant decrease in past-year use of 'any illicit drug'. The methodological changes in the US surveys prevented comparison for these years, but there were increases in use of any illicit drug between 2000 and 2001. Patterns of use of marijuana, stimulants, cocaine, ecstasy, heroin and needles are shown by age group and gender. Use by teenage girls in both countries has risen to the point that they are now using alcohol and some drugs at rates similar to boys. Over 20% of teens in both countries reported binge drinking in the past month. While Australians in their 20s had the highest rates of lifetime and past-year use, in the United States, depending on the drug, lifetime use was highest among people in their 30s or 40s, with past-year use highest among teenagers. Drug treatment services are needed not only for young people, but also for aging users. The changes in perceptions of risk from use of various drugs and availability of these drugs are related to changes in prevalence rates. [Maxwell JC. Update: comparison of drug use in Australia and the United States as seen in the 2001 National Household Surveys. Drug Alcohol Rev 2003;22:347 - 357]     

Patterns of substance use onset among Hispanics in Puerto Rico and the United States

PURPOSE: Examine patterns of progression in substance use among Hispanic youth 13 to 17 years of age from two longitudinally representative studies. METHOD: Patterns of substance use among youth in Puerto Rico were examined using a longitudinal study (n=663) of adolescents living on the island. The National Longitudinal Study of Youth was used to examine patterns of substance use among Hispanics living in the United States (n=1,445). Latent transition analysis was used to estimate the probability of membership in each stage of substance use and incidence of transitions between different substance use stages over time. RESULTS: Six stages best described the heterogeneity in substance use among youth in Puerto Rico. Five stages were sufficient to describe patterns of substance use among youth in the United States. Youth living in Puerto Rico reported lower rates of smoking and illicit drug use, but higher rates of alcohol use, when compared with rates among Hispanics in the United States. DISCUSSION: Similar patterns of substance use were identified for Hispanic youth living in the United States and youth living in Puerto Rico.     

High notes: the role of drugs in the making of Jazz

This paper examines the role played by illicit drugs, especially marijuana and heroin, in the historic development and evolution of Jazz in the United States during the twentieth century. In addition to an assessment of the extent of drug use and kinds of drugs used by Jazz musicians and singers, the impact and costs of drug use on the lives of people in Jazz, and the changing patterns of drug use during several eras of Jazz production, the paper contextualizes drug use among Jazz performers and societal response to it in light of prevailing ethnic inequalities and critical medical anthropological theory.     

Getting Higher: Co-Occurring Drug Use Among Marijuana-Using Emerging Adults

The most widely used illicit drug in the United States continues to be marijuana, and its use among emerging adults continues to increase. Marijuana use can result in a range of negative consequences and has been associated with other drug use in adolescents and emerging adults. This study examined the relationship between marijuana use frequency and the use of six other drug classes (opiates, cocaine, stimulants, hallucinogens, inhalants, and sleep medications) among emerging adults. A cross-sectional interview design was used with a community sample of 1,075 emerging adults in the northeastern United States. Using logistic regression analysis controlling for age, ethnicity, gender, and frequency of binge alcohol, daily marijuana use was found to be associated with a significant increase in the expected odds of opiate, cocaine, stimulant, hallucinogen, inhalant, and tobacco use. The findings identify a subgroup of emerging adult marijuana users—those who use daily—that may be vulnerable to additional negative consequences associated with polysubstance use.     

Use of Alcohol,Illicit Drugs,and Tobacco Among Characters on Prime-Time Television

Previous research of addictive substances suggests that use of alcohol, illicit drugs, and tobacco is overrepresented on prime-time television (TV). These studies, however, have relied on frequency counts of the substance, rather than the prevalence of use among characters. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to compare the prevalence of alcohol, illicit drug, and tobacco users among characters on prime-time TV during 1995 and 1996 with rates of use in the United States. In addition, we determined if the ratio of male to female, young to old, and white to minority addictive substance users on prime-time TV were similar to the equivalent U.S. ratios. Comparing results for prime-time TV characters versus the U.S. population (respectively), 11.0% (99% CI, 9.8–12.1) drank alcohol versus 51.0%; 0.8% (99% CI, 0.5–1.1) used illicit drugs versus 6.1%; and 2.5% (99% CI, 2.0–3.1) smoked tobacco versus 28.9%. In addition, no consistent pattern was evident in our analyses that assessed whether addictive substance users on prime-time TV were more frequently represented as men, young, or minority compared to the similar U.S. ratio. These results indicate that contrary to prevailing beliefs, alcohol, illicit drug, and tobacco users are uncommon on prime-time TV and are less prevalent than in the U.S. population.