A twin study of early cannabis use and subsequent use and abuse/dependence of other illicit drugs

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 1227-1237 ◽  
Author(s):  
ARPANA AGRAWAL ◽  
MICHAEL C. NEALE ◽  
CAROL A. PRESCOTT ◽  
KENNETH S. KENDLER
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Model Fitting ◽  
Illicit Drug Use ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Twin Design ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Discordant Twin

Introduction. Cannabis use is strongly associated with the use and abuse/dependence of other illicit drugs. Gateway and common liabilities models have been employed to explain this relationship. We sought to examine this association using a combination of the discordant twin design and modeling methods.Method. We assess the relationship between early cannabis use and the subsequent use and abuse/dependence of other illicit drugs in a population-based sample of male and female twin pairs using four analyses: (i) analysis of the association between early cannabis use and other illicit drug use and abuse/dependence in the entire sample of twins, (ii) assessment of the influence of early cannabis use in twin 1 on twin 2's use or abuse/dependence of other illicit drugs, (iii) use of twin pairs discordant for early cannabis use in a discordant twin design and (iv) a model-fitting procedure.Results. We found: (i) a strong association between early cannabis use and use and abuse/dependence of other illicit drugs in the sample, (ii) twin 1's early cannabis use is significantly associated with the twin 2's other illicit drug use, (iii) the role of correlated genetic factors with some evidence for a causal influence, and (iv) the correlated liabilities model fits the data well.Conclusions. Early cannabis use is strongly associated with other illicit drug use and abuse/dependence. The relationship arises largely due to correlated genetic and environmental influences with persisting evidence for some causal influences.

Fire on the Mountain: Reinvigorating Legislative Measures to Quench the Flame of Illicit Drug Use in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-29
Author(s):  
Sogo Angel Olofinbiyi ◽  
Thembelihle Mtambo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
South African ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Illicit Drug Use ◽  
Critical Discussion ◽  
African Government ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Legislative Measures

South African societies have been characterized by the prolific incidence of illicit drug use in recent times.  The paper attempts to examine the legislations implemented on the use of illicit drugs in South Africa. The study adopts a review of the literature to identify and describe the most common illicit drugs used around South Africa communities, placing emphasis on the policies developed by the South African government in combating these situations. The research follows a critical   discussion on the issues associated with drug use, its causes, as well as its effects on humans and the environment. The study recommends relevant initiatives to combat all intricacies associated with drug use within the country. This approach will be appropriate in facilitating a clear-cut   understanding of the possible remedies to quench the burning flame of illicit drug use across a broad range of South African communities.

Silent severe myocardial ischemia in a past illicit drug user imaged with myocardial perfusion scintigraphy

Perfusion ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 026765912110281
Author(s):  
Chrissa Sioka ◽  
Georgios Georgiou ◽  
Christos Katsouras ◽  
Konstantinos Pappas ◽  
Dimitris-Nikiforos Kiortsis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Myocardial Perfusion ◽  
Myocardial Ischemia ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Microvascular Dysfunction ◽  
Illicit Drug Use ◽  
Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction ◽  
Illicit Drug User ◽  
Cardiac Symptoms

Patients with illicit drug use may have deleterious acute and chronic cardiac effects. We present a case of a 42-year-old man, former alcohol and various illicit drugs user, who was admitted to the psychiatric unit for management of psychosis. Because of his previous drug and alcohol history, a cardiological evaluation was performed which revealed silent severe myocardial ischemia detected by myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). The myocardial ischemia was attributed to coronary microvascular dysfunction, occurring several years after quitting the illicit drugs. This study highlights the potential myocardial ischemia that may occur in patients with previous alcohol and illicit drug use, and the role of MPI, a non-invasive test that can provide important information regarding the myocardial status of such patients, even without obvious cardiac symptoms or findings.

scholarly journals Use of illicit drugs by adolescents and young adults of an urban settlement in Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-118
Author(s):  
Rafael Alves Guimarães ◽  
Márcia Maria de Souza ◽  
Karlla Antonieta Amorim Caetano ◽  
Sheila Araujo Teles ◽  
Marcos André de Matos
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Illicit Drug Use ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Urban Settlement ◽  
Factors Associated

Summary Objective: To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with illicit drug use by adolescents and young adults of a formal urban settlement. Method: Cross-sectional study including adolescents and young adults 12-24 years of an urban settlement in the Midwest Region of Brazil. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using Stata, version 12.0. We used Poisson regression model to estimate the factors associated with illicit drug use. Results: Of the total participants (n=105), 27.6% (95CI 20.0-36.9%) had used illicit drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, crack, LSD and inhalants. The consumption of these substances was associated with male gender, use of body piercing and/or tattoos, licit drug use and self-report of signs and/or symptoms of sexually transmitted infections. Conclusion: High prevalence of illicit drug use was found in the individuals investigated, ratifying the presence of risk factors to the vulnerability of the settlers to use these substances in the urban settlement population.

scholarly journals An Australian Twin Study of Cannabis and Other Illicit Drug Use and Misuse, and Other Psychopathology

2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 631-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T. Lynskey ◽  
Arpana Agrawal ◽  
Anjali Henders ◽  
Elliot C. Nelson ◽  
Pamela A. F. Madden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Age Of Onset ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Drug Use Disorders ◽  
Illicit Drug Abuse ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Adult Twins

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug throughout the developed world and there is consistent evidence of heritable influences on multiple stages of cannabis involvement including initiation of use and abuse/dependence. In this paper, we describe the methodology and preliminary results of a large-scale interview study of 3,824 young adult twins (born 1972–1979) and their siblings. Cannabis use was common with 75.2% of males and 64.7% of females reporting some lifetime use of cannabis while 24.5% of males and 11.8% of females reported meeting criteria for DSM-IV cannabis abuse or dependence. Rates of other drug use disorders and common psychiatric conditions were highly correlated with extent of cannabis involvement and there was consistent evidence of heritable influences across a range of cannabis phenotypes including early (≤15 years) opportunity to use (h2 = 72%), early (≤16 years) onset use (h2 = 80%), using cannabis 11+ times lifetime (h2 = 76%), and DSM abuse/dependence (h2 = 72%). Early age of onset of cannabis use was strongly associated with increased rates of subsequent use of other illicit drugs and with illicit drug abuse/dependence; further analyses indicating that some component of this association may have been mediated by increasing exposure to and opportunity to use other illicit drugs.

scholarly journals How far can you go? Association between illicit drug use and academic migration

2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-15
Author(s):  
Lauro Miranda Demenech ◽  
Samuel C. Dumith ◽  
Luiza Santos Ferreira ◽  
Mariana Lima Corrêa ◽  
Pedro San Martin Soares ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Illicit Drug Use ◽  
Religious Practice ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Systematic Sampling ◽  
Cross Sectional

ABSTRACT Objective: To measure the prevalence of illicit drugs use in the lifetime, last year and last month, as well as the factors associated to the last year's use and its association with academic migration, among undergraduate students of a university in southern Brazil. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected through self-administered questionnaire. It was conducted a clustered systematic sampling. For multivariate analyses, it was used Poisson regression. Results: 1,423 students participated. The prevalence of illicit drug use in the lifetime, last year and last month were 42.4%, 25.5% and 17.7%, respectively. Regarding illicit substances, marijuana use was the most prevalent. The variables independently associated with illicit drugs use in the last year were academic migration, being male, younger, single, high parent's educational level, living with peers, tobacco use in the last year, and having friend and relative that have used illicit drugs. Religious practice had a protective effect. Conclusion: Individuals who migrated from their cities to study at the university are more exposed to the main risk factors pointed out by this research and hence to the use of illicit drugs. Based on these results, we suggest that universities develop evaluation, prevention, treatment or referral strategies considering specific needs of this population

scholarly journals Cannabis use, subsequent other illicit drug use and drug use disorders: A 16-year follow-up study among Swedish adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 106 ◽  
pp. 106390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rynaz Rabiee ◽  
Andreas Lundin ◽  
Emilie Agardh ◽  
Yvonne Forsell ◽  
Peter Allebeck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Illicit Drug Use ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Follow Up Study ◽  
Drug Use Disorders

scholarly journals Epidemiology of Alcohol Misuse and Illicit Drug Use Among Young People Aged 15–24 Years in Fishing Communities in Uganda

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica O. Kuteesa ◽  
Helen A. Weiss ◽  
Sarah Cook ◽  
Janet Seeley ◽  
Josephine N. Ssentongo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Young People ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Alcohol Misuse ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Illicit Drug Use ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Fishing Communities ◽  
Low Education

Background: We determined the prevalence of and risk factors for alcohol misuse and illicit drug use among young Ugandans in fishing communities, a recognised “key population” for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among young people (15–24 years) in fishing communities in Koome, Uganda, in December 2017–July 2018. Using Audio-Assisted Self-Interviewing, we collected data on socio-demographic characteristics and alcohol use, including the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and timeline follow-back calendar (TLFB). Blood samples were analysed for HIV, herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV2), and Phosphatidyl ethanol (PEth 16:0/18:1). Urine samples were analysed for illicit drugs. Results: Among 1281 participants (52.7% male, mean age 20 years), 659 (51.4%) reported ever drinking alcohol, 248 (19.4%) had 12-month-AUDIT ≥ 8, and 261 (20.5%) had whole-blood PEth 16:0/18:1 concentration ≥ 20 ng/mL, indicating significant consumption. In multivariable analyses, PEth 16:0/18:1 ≥ 20ng/mL, AUDIT ≥ 8 and binge drinking (≥6 standard drinks per drinking occasion in the previous month from TLFB) were all strongly associated with older age, low education, smoking, and HSV2. Illicit drug use prevalence was 5.2% and was associated with older age, low education, being single, and smoking. Conclusion: Levels of alcohol misuse were high among young people in fishing communities and associated with HSV2, a proxy for risky sexual behaviour. Alcohol and illicit drug harm reduction services and HIV prevention programs in Uganda should prioritise young fisherfolk.

scholarly journals In-Hospital Illicit Drug Use and Patient-Directed Discharge: Barriers to Care for Patients With Injection-Related Infections

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen F Eaton ◽  
Andrew O Westfall ◽  
Brandi McClesky ◽  
Cayce S Paddock ◽  
Peter S Lane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Illicit Drug Use ◽  
The United States ◽  
Models Of Care ◽  
Medical Advice ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Against Medical Advice ◽  
Persons Who Inject Drugs

Abstract Background Hospitalized persons who inject drugs are at a greater risk of adverse hospital outcomes including discharge against medical advice, inpatient illicit drug use, overdose, and death. However, there are limited data on the frequency and outcomes of these events in the United States. Methods This retrospective analysis included patients with injection-related infections receiving a protocol for injection drug use (IDU) at University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital from 2016 to 2017. In-hospital IDU was suspected or reported drug usage plus confirmatory drug screen, and documented discharges “against medical advice” were deemed patient-directed discharges (PDD). We analyzed the frequency of and associations between in-hospital IDU, PDD, 30-day readmission, and deaths (between 2016 and 2019) using McNemar’s tests. Logistic regression models evaluated the association between PDD, in-hospital IDU, readmission, and death. Results Overall, 83 patients met inclusion criteria: 28 (34%) with in-hospital IDU, 12 (14%) PDD, 9 (11%) died, and 12 (14%) 30-day readmission. In-hospital IDU was significantly associated with PDD (P = .003), 30-day readmission (P = .005), and death (P = .0003). Patient-directed discharges and 30-day readmission were not significantly associated with death nor with each other. Conclusions In a cohort of patients receiving inpatient care for injection-related infections, illicit drug use, PDD, 30-day readmissions, and death were common. Furthermore, patients who use illicit drugs while hospitalized are significantly more likely to leave early, be readmitted, and/or die. We must design models of care that prevent adverse outcomes, including drug use and PDD, to reduce barriers to evidence-based treatment of infections.

Cannabis use and other illicit drug use: testing the cannabis gateway hypothesis

Addiction ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 101 (4) ◽  
pp. 556-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Fergusson ◽  
Joseph M. Boden ◽  
L. John Horwood
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Illicit Drug Use ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Gateway Hypothesis
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