How does someone go from being an occasional drug user to abuser? Are there any risk factors that can predict how quickly a person can develop a dependence to a certain drug? According to a new study being published in Addictive Behaviors (February 2014), there are. And hopefully such insights can help doctors amp up preventative measures for those most vulnerable.
The recent study took into account a number of demographic factors, psychiatric disorders and childhood risk factors that have in the past been associated with cocaine and opioid dependencies. What they were researching was whether there was any significance to determining the rate at which dependence develops. They were specifically looking for any “subpopulations at elevated risk for rapid development of dependence and the risk factors that accelerate the course of dependence.” (Science Direct) Both of which could be important public health knowledge for prevention and treatment of cocaine and opioid problems.
The study included data collection from 6,333 cocaine dependent individuals and 3,513 opioid dependent individuals. The average age of participants was 40 years old. Forty percent of the participants were women. 51.9% of the cocaine dependent participants and 29.5% of the opioid dependent participants self-identified as Black/African-American. Taken into account was the time from first use of either cocaine or opioids to dependence, as well as, a range of demographics, psychiatric disorders, and childhood risk factors.
The results of the study found that for both cocaine and opioid dependence conduct disorder and physical abuse predicted rapid onset of dependence to the addictive substance. And for both cocaine and opioid dependence, dependence on other substances such as alcohol or nicotine predicted slower transitions from drug user to abuser (dependence). The study also found that Black/African Americans were at a greater risk for rapid onset of opioid dependence than European Americans.
