Association Between Heroin Use and Depression: NHANES 2005-2018.

ABSTRACT: Heroin use and major depression are each leading contributors to global disability and premature mortality, yet evidence for a specific association between the two remains fragmented and is often derived from small, treatment-seeking samples. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of nationally representative data from the 2005-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, including 19 022 US adults aged ≥ 20 years with complete information on heroin use, depression status, and relevant covariates. Clinically significant depression was defined as a PHQ-9 score ≥ 10. After multivariable adjustment for sociodemographic, behavioural, and clinical factors, including polysubstance use and chronic medical conditions, lifetime heroin use was independently associated with depression (adj

SUBMITTER: Li B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12820517 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature