Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Volume 28, Issue 3 , Pages 225-230, April 2005

Illicit use of opioid analgesics by high school seniors

  • Sean Esteban McCabe, Ph.D., MSW

      Affiliations

    • Substance Abuse Research Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Substance Abuse Research Center, The University of Michigan, 2025 Traverwood, Suite C, Ann Arbor, MI 48105-2194, USA. Tel.: +1 734 998 6510; fax: +1 734 998 6508
    • ,
  • Carol J. Boyd, Ph.D., RN

      Affiliations

    • Substance Abuse Research Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
    • ,
  • Christian J. Teter, Pharm.D., BCPP

      Affiliations

    • Northeastern University School of Pharmacy and McLean Hospital Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Program, Boston, MA 02115, USA

Received 26 March 2004; received in revised form 19 September 2004; accepted 1 December 2004.

Abstract 

The illicit use of opioid analgesics represents a growing problem among American adolescents. In order to examine the correlates associated with the illicit use of opioid analgesics, a nationally representative sample of 4,522 high school seniors from the 2002 Monitoring the Future database was examined. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that illicit users of prescription opioid analgesics were significantly more likely to be male, White, and have lower grade point averages. Illicit users of opioid analgesics also reported higher rates of cigarette smoking, alcohol use, marijuana use, other illicit drug use, and problem behaviors. The present study provides evidence that the illicit use of opioid analgesics represents a problem among American high school seniors and effective prevention and intervention efforts are needed.

Keywords: Prescription drug abuse, Opioid analgesics, Adolescent, Substance abuse, Pain

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PII: S0740-5472(04)00163-1

doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2004.12.009

Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Volume 28, Issue 3 , Pages 225-230, April 2005

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