Yockey R Andrew, King Keith A, Vidourek Rebecca A
Health Promotion and Education, School of Human Services, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Center for Prevention Science, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2020 Jul 3;46(4):498-505. doi: 10.1080/00952990.2020.1747478. Epub 2020 Jun 1.
Non-medical opioid use (NMOU) is a national public health concern with no signs of abating. While much research has focused on opioid use among adults, significant gaps exist on NMOU among youth.
The present study sought to identify the prevalence and correlates to NMOU use among a national sample of US youth ages 12-17 years old over multiple years of data.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a repeated, cross-sectional, nationally representative survey of youth and adults in the US, was analyzed. Aggregated NSDUH data (2015-2018) was used to analyze NMOU among 54,866 youth (28,032 males, 26,834 females). Weighted analyses were conducted to determine significant associations to past-year non-medical opioid use.
Weighted analyses revealed that 3.36% of youth used opioids non-medically in the past year. Compared to 2015, there was a significant decrease in the odds of past-year use in 2017 and 2018. NMOU users tended to be African American, Hispanic, reported major depression in the past year, and engaged in fighting with other youth. Compared to non-users of illegal drugs, youth who used marijuana, alcohol, and cigarettes were more likely to use opioids in the past year.
The present study found that opioid use is declining among youth. Findings may aid harm reduction efforts, theory-based clinical interventions, and health prevention messaging on opioid use.
非医疗目的使用阿片类药物（NMOU）是一个全国性的公共卫生问题，且毫无缓和迹象。尽管许多研究聚焦于成年人使用阿片类药物的情况，但在青少年非医疗目的使用阿片类药物方面仍存在重大差距。
本研究旨在通过多年数据确定美国12至17岁全国青少年样本中非医疗目的使用阿片类药物的患病率及其相关因素。
对美国全国药物使用和健康调查进行了分析，该调查是一项针对美国青少年和成年人的重复横断面全国代表性调查。汇总的2015 - 2018年全国药物使用和健康调查数据用于分析54866名青少年（28032名男性，26834名女性）的非医疗目的使用阿片类药物情况。进行加权分析以确定与过去一年非医疗目的使用阿片类药物的显著关联。
加权分析显示，过去一年中有3.36%的青少年非医疗目的使用阿片类药物。与2015年相比，2017年和2018年过去一年使用阿片类药物的几率显著下降。非医疗目的使用阿片类药物的青少年往往是非裔美国人、西班牙裔，报告过去一年有重度抑郁症，且与其他青少年发生过打斗。与不使用非法药物的青少年相比，使用大麻、酒精和香烟的青少年在过去一年更有可能使用阿片类药物。
本研究发现青少年中阿片类药物的使用正在下降。研究结果可能有助于减少伤害的努力、基于理论的临床干预以及关于阿片类药物使用的健康预防信息传播。
