Non-medical use of prescription opioids is associated with heroin initiation among US veterans: a prospective cohort study

Addiction. 2016 Nov;111(11):2021-2031. doi: 10.1111/add.13491. Epub 2016 Aug 23.

Abstract

Aims: To estimate the influence of non-medical use of prescription opioids (NMUPO) on heroin initiation among US veterans receiving medical care.

Design: Using a multivariable Cox regression model, we analyzed data from a prospective, multi-site, observational study of HIV-infected and an age/race/site-matched control group of HIV-uninfected veterans in care in the United States. Approximately annual behavioral assessments were conducted and contained self-reported measures of NMUPO and heroin use.

Setting: Veterans Health Administration (VHA) infectious disease and primary care clinics in Atlanta, Baltimore, New York, Houston, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Washington, DC.

Participants: A total of 3396 HIV-infected and uninfected patients enrolled into the Veterans Aging Cohort Study who reported no life-time NMUPO or heroin use, had no opioid use disorder diagnoses at baseline and who were followed between 2002 and 2012.

Measurements: The primary outcome measure was self-reported incident heroin use and the primary exposure of interest was new-onset NMUPO. Our final model was adjusted for socio-demographics, pain interference, prior diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder and/or depression and self-reported other substance use.

Findings: Using a multivariable Cox regression model, we found that non-medical use of prescription opioids NMUPO was associated positively and independently with heroin initiation [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 5.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 4.01, 7.35].

Conclusions: New-onset non-medical use of prescription opioids (NMUPO) is a strong risk factor for heroin initiation among HIV-infected and uninfected veterans in the United States who reported no previous history of NMUPO or illicit opioid use.

Keywords: Heroin; longitudinal study; non-medical prescription drug use; opioid-related disorders; polysubstance use; veterans.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Analgesics, Opioid*
  • Female
  • Heroin Dependence / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prescription Drug Misuse / statistics & numerical data*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Self Report
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Veterans / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid