Building the illicit drug profile;modeling drug use frequency and type with user behaviors and demographics

Abstract

Background: Drug abuse and dependence have severe and adverse effects on the physical and social health of the person and over time accrues a large economic cost to society. However the money spent on prevention by the government has continued to spur criticism. Further evaluation of drug use behavior and demographics is necessary to increase effectiveness of prevention, education and treatment programs.Methods: Using the four years of data from the 2008 to 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a survey which provides national and state-level data on the use of tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs, this study evaluated 56,396 drug users and created a prediction model to understand the associations between drug use behavior and demographics with drug type and drug use frequency. This study used stepwise ordinal logistic regression for the drug use frequency evaluation and multinomial logistic regression for drug type evaluation.Results: Stark differences exist between the behavior and demographic make-up of heavier and lighter drug users across seven different illicit drugs. The beginnings of the profiles of heavier drug users can be made and taken into consideration for further educational points. Evaluation into the differences in drug type choice revealed more unique characteristics in the social and cultural role the drugs play in US society.Conclusion: This study shows that targeted anti-drug campaigns for young people will remain critical to prevention and intervention. Furthermore, an aim at minority communities will help alleviate the pressures of harder illicit drugs. Providing recovery and educational resources to the minority population may be another important step against illicit drug use and trade. An assessment for the education for analgesic drug abuse should be carried out. Further study into racial and ethnic differences is needed.