Comparing the life concerns of prescription opioid and heroin users

J Subst Abuse Treat. 2015 Jan;48(1):43-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2014.07.001. Epub 2014 Jul 11.

Abstract

This study explored life concerns of prescription opioid (PO) and heroin users. Persons entering opioid detoxification rated their level of concern about 43 health and welfare items. Using exploratory factor analysis and conceptual rationale, we identified ten areas of concern. Participants (N=529) were 69.9% male, 87.5% non-Hispanic Caucasian, and 24.2% PO users. Concern about drug problems was perceived as the most serious concern, followed by money problems, relationship problems, mental health, and cigarette smoking. PO users expressed significantly lower concern about drug problems (p=.017) and transmissible diseases (p<.001), but were more concerned about alcohol use (p<.001) than heroin users. There were no significant differences with regard to the other 7 areas of concern. Recognition of the daily worries of opioid dependent persons could allow providers to better tailor their services to the context of their patients' lives.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01751789.

Keywords: Detoxification; Health concerns; Heroin; Opioids; Self-reported health.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Heroin Dependence / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / psychology*
  • Prescription Drug Misuse / psychology*

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01751789