Katherine J Hoggatt1,2, Keren Lehavot3,4,5,6, Marketa Krenek4, Catherine Amanda Schweizer1,7, Tracy Simpson4,5,8. 1. VA Greater Los Angeles Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy, Los Angeles, California. 2. Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California. 3. Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington. 4. Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington. 5. Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. 6. Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. 7. David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. 8. Center of Excellence in Substance Abuse Treatment and Education (CESATE), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Epidemiologic data on substance misuse prevalence among US Veterans are crucial to plan for Veterans' future healthcare needs. We estimated US Veterans' age-specific, overall, and age-adjusted prevalence of substance misuse, assessed whether prevalence differed between Veterans and civilians, and examined temporal trends in prevalence. METHODS: Substance-related measures were obtained from the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, 2002-2012 (N = 24,210 Veterans; 338,556 civilians). RESULTS: Among women and men Veterans overall, past-month heavy episodic drinking and daily cigarette smoking were the most prevalent types of substance misuse. For Veteran women and men ages 18-25, the prevalence of past-year illicit drug use was 29% and 38%, which was comparable to the prevalence of past-month daily cigarette smoking, and the prevalence of past-year prescription drug misuse was 14% and 18%. For men ages 18-25, heavy episodic drinking, daily cigarette smoking, alcohol use disorder (AUD), and substance use disorder were more prevalent among Veterans than civilians. For women, the age-specific, overall, and age-adjusted prevalence of daily cigarette smoking was generally greater among Veterans than civilians. There was a decreasing temporal trend in overall AUD prevalence among Veteran men, reflecting a decreasing trend in age-specific prevalence among Veteran men ages 35-49. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Young Veterans' high prevalence of substance misuse, and the generally high prevalence of daily smoking among Veterans, underscore the need for evidence-based assessments and treatment options that are accessible and effective for Veterans. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides foundational information on the epidemiology of substance misuse among Veterans. (Am J Addict 2017;26:357-365). Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Epidemiologic data on substance misuse prevalence among US Veterans are crucial to plan for Veterans' future healthcare needs. We estimated US Veterans' age-specific, overall, and age-adjusted prevalence of substance misuse, assessed whether prevalence differed between Veterans and civilians, and examined temporal trends in prevalence. METHODS: Substance-related measures were obtained from the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, 2002-2012 (N = 24,210 Veterans; 338,556 civilians). RESULTS: Among women and men Veterans overall, past-month heavy episodic drinking and daily cigarette smoking were the most prevalent types of substance misuse. For Veteran women and men ages 18-25, the prevalence of past-year illicit drug use was 29% and 38%, which was comparable to the prevalence of past-month daily cigarette smoking, and the prevalence of past-year prescription drug misuse was 14% and 18%. For men ages 18-25, heavy episodic drinking, daily cigarette smoking, alcohol use disorder (AUD), and substance use disorder were more prevalent among Veterans than civilians. For women, the age-specific, overall, and age-adjusted prevalence of daily cigarette smoking was generally greater among Veterans than civilians. There was a decreasing temporal trend in overall AUD prevalence among Veteran men, reflecting a decreasing trend in age-specific prevalence among Veteran men ages 35-49. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Young Veterans' high prevalence of substance misuse, and the generally high prevalence of daily smoking among Veterans, underscore the need for evidence-based assessments and treatment options that are accessible and effective for Veterans. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides foundational information on the epidemiology of substance misuse among Veterans. (Am J Addict 2017;26:357-365). Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Authors: Dominic Hodgkin; Wenwu Gao; Elizabeth L Merrick; Charles E Drebing; Mary Jo Larson; Constance M Horgan; Monica Sharma; Nancy M Petry; Richard Saitz Journal: Subst Abus Date: 2018-05-23 Impact factor: 3.716
Authors: C Amanda Schweizer; Katherine J Hoggatt; Donna L Washington; Bevanne Bean-Mayberry; Elizabeth M Yano; Michael N Mitchell; Cathy A Alessi; Jennifer L Martin Journal: Sleep Health Date: 2019-08-12
Authors: Amy C Justice; Rachel V Smith; Janet P Tate; Kathleen McGinnis; Ke Xu; William C Becker; Kuang-Yao Lee; Kevin Lynch; Ning Sun; John Concato; David A Fiellin; Hongyu Zhao; Joel Gelernter; Henry R Kranzler Journal: Addiction Date: 2018-08-01 Impact factor: 6.526
Authors: David H Morris; Alan K Davis; Kirstin J Lauritsen; C Martin Rieth; Mark M Silvestri; Jamie J Winters; Stephen T Chermack Journal: J Subst Abuse Treat Date: 2018-08-19