Early Lifetime Substance Use and Development of Visual Impairment: Analysis of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health Data

Abstract

Purpose To investigate the association between early lifetime substance use on the development of severe visual acuity impairment or blindness on a national level. Methods National Survey of Drug Use and Health data was used to identify cases of substance use before 21* years of age, within the past year, and cases of self-reported blindness or visual impairment. Univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression with time-dependency was performed to evaluate odds of visual impairment influenced by 16 substances separated into three classes: prescription, non-prescription, and illicit drugs. Adjusted variables of interest included gender, marital status, race, level of education, total family income, poverty level, population density, and history of chronic disease. Results 55,824 total responses were analyzed with 2577 (4.6%) cases of self-reported blindness or significant visual impairment. All early-use substance categories, including prescription, non-prescription, and illegal substances, were significantly associated with self-reported VI (OR 2.068, CI 1.451–2.949, p <0.001; OR 1.352, CI 1.227–1.489, p <0.001); OR 1.211, CI 1.086–1.352, p <0.001), respectively). Non-prescription substances displayed parallel significances amongst all constituents (alcohol, cigarettes, inhalants, and marijuana) (OR=1.227, CI 1.12–1.344, p <0.001; OR 1.363, CI 1.243–1.495, p <0.001; OR 1.418, CI 1.134–1.774; OR 1.388, CI 1.27–1.518, p <0.001, respectively). Univariable and multivariable analysis revealed several significant demographical and clinical adjustors. Conclusion Early lifetime use of all three classes of substances is associated with enhanced odds of subsequent visual impairment or blindness. Several readily available and commonly used substances have a greater risk. These findings may help clinicians and public health agencies in mitigation ventures including education, prevention, and rehabilitation efforts.

Adolescents with substance use referred to child protective services: Does substance use treatment prevent foster care entry?

“…In the USA, alcohol use alone is estimated to be responsible for a societal economic burden of about $249 billion, and other illicit drugs are estimated to put a burden on the US society of about $193 billion US dollars per year (US Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Surgeon General, 2022). Early initiation of substance use often leads to addiction in adulthood (Phillips et al, 2021; US Department of Health and Human Services, 2016) and is associated with other negative physical and mental health outcomes such as cancer, cardiac disorder, visual impairment, depression, and anxiety (Carrano, 2012; Hussain et al, 2023; US Department of Health and Human Services, 2022). Adolescent substance use has also been found to be associated with risky behaviours including violent or delinquent acts (Hoeben et al, 2021; Walters, 2022), riding with a driver under the influence of alcohol (Sharp et al, 2019), drunk driving (Ewing et al, 2015), weapon carrying (Baiden et al, 2021; Laufer et al, 2006), and unsafe sex (Quinn et al, 2023; Voisin et al, 2013).…”