Patterns of Prescription Medicine, Illicit Drugs, and Alcohol Misuse among High-Risk Population: A Factor Analysis to Delineate Profiles of Polydrug Users.

ABSTRACT: Polydrug use is a serious health and social problem worldwide. Treatment remains a challenge because it requires planning based on estimates of the nature and extent of drug consumption and the characteristics of the population in need. To this end, 103 subjects, who voluntarily asked to begin rehabilitation treatment, were monitored through hair analysis to investigate the nature and extent of their polydrug use. A factor analysis was carried out to delineate polydrug user profiles based on the following variables: age, sex, type of illicit drug use, type of prescription drug misuse, and amount of alcohol consumption. Twenty-three percent of subjects tested positive to more than one illicit drug (mainly cocaine), 44% to unprescribed drugs (mainly benzodiazepines), and 66% were hard drinke

SUBMITTER: Gili A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9031601 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature