Global burden and health inequalities of drug use disorders in adolescents and young adults from 1992 to 2021.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Drug use disorders (DUDs) are serious medical issues worldwide, especially in adolescents and young adults. This study aims to assess the global pattern and trends in disease burden due to DUDs among adolescents and young adults and its health inequalities from 1992 to 2021.

Methods

We downloaded data on the prevalence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to DUDs among people aged 15-39 years from the Global Burden of Disease 2021. Age-period-cohort (APC) model was used to assess the time trend of disease burden. The slope index and the concentration index were calculated to assess cross-national health inequalities.

Results

There were approximately 40.2 [95% uncertainty interval (UI): 34.7-47.7] million cases of DUDs among adolescents and young a

SUBMITTER: Bao R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12715014 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature