Previous Use of Alcohol, Cigarettes, and Marijuana and Subsequent Abuse of Prescription Opioids in Young Adults

Abstract

Purpose There has been an increase in the abuse of prescription opioids, especially in younger individuals. The current study explores the association between alcohol, cigarette, and/or marijuana use during adolescence and subsequent abuse of prescription opioids during young adulthood. Methods We used demographic/clinical data from community-dwelling individuals in the 2006–2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. We used logistic regression analyses, adjusted for these characteristics, to test whether having antecedent alcohol, cigarette, or marijuana use was associated with an increased likelihood of subsequently abusing prescription opioids. Results 12% of the survey population of 18–25 year olds (n=6496) reported current abuse of prescription opioids. For this population, prevalence of prior substance use was 57% for alcohol, 56% for cigarettes, and 34% for marijuana. We found prior alcohol use was associated with the subsequent abuse of prescription opioids in young men but not young women. Among both men and women, prior marijuana use was 2.5 times more likely than no prior marijuana to be associated with subsequent abuse of prescription opioids. We found that among young boys, all prior substance use (alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana) but only prior marijuana use in young girls was associated with an increased likelihood of subsequent abuse of prescription opioids during young adulthood. Conclusions Prior alcohol, cigarette and marijuana use were each associated with current abuse of prescription opioids in 18–25 year old men but only marijuana use was associated with subsequent prescription opioids in young women. Prevention efforts targeting early substance abuse may help to curb the abuse of prescription opioids.

Use of Prescription Pain Medications Among Medical Cannabis Patients: Comparisons of Pain Levels, Functioning, and Patterns of Alcohol and Other Drug Use

“…Pesce et al (2010) also found that patients with chronic pain who used cannabis were 3.7 times more likely to test positive for other illicit drugs (e.g., methamphetamines and cocaine) than were non-cannabis users (see also Manchikanti et al, 2008). Fiellin et al (2013) also presented evidence for cannabis as a possible gateway drug to the misuse of prescription opioids among both men and women 18-25 years of age.…”

Pediatric Concerns Due to Expanded Cannabis Use: Unintended Consequences of Legalization

“…Other studies have shown that adolescent marijuana users are more likely to be addicted to other drugs after adolescence, including tobacco, alcohol, and opioid analgesics [65][66][67][68][69][70]. There also appears a positive association with psychotic symptoms or disorders like schizophrenia and marijuana use [71][72][73][74][75].…”

Current Data Raises Toxicity and Safety Concerns about Today’s High THC Content Cannabis

“…Scientists at NIDA have been working hard to understand marijuana's reward system. Second, credible research has shown marijuana leads to an increase in prescription drug abuse by young people, such as oxycontin [12]. We know from research [13] and accounts from heroin addicts themselves, that once hooked on oxycontin, kids will resort to less expensive heroin to achieve their opiate high.…”

“…Most critical, emerging adults with heavy use backgrounds show size effects in brain areas that are involved in cognition, such as the prefrontal cortex and parietal region [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21].…”