Illicit Methadone Use in New York City
Author Information
Author(s): Ompad Danielle C, Fuller Crystal M, Chan Christina A, Frye Victoria, Vlahov David, Galea Sandro
Primary Institution: New York Academy of Medicine
Hypothesis
Illicit methadone use is associated with heroin dependence.
Conclusion
Illicit methadone use is likely not a primary drug of choice, but is more common among those who use other illicit drugs.
Supporting Evidence
- 21.8% of non-injection drug users had used illicit methadone in their lifetime.
- 52.6% of injection drug users had used illicit methadone in their lifetime.
- Illicit methadone users were more likely to be polysubstance users.
- Illicit methadone use was associated with higher rates of overdose experiences.
- Users were more likely to have a heroin-using sexual partner.
Takeaway
Some people in New York City use methadone illegally, often alongside other drugs like heroin, and it's not usually their main drug.
Methodology
Participants were recruited through street outreach and completed questionnaires about drug use and behaviors.
Potential Biases
Potential biases due to self-reported data and the specific demographic of participants.
Limitations
The study only included users of heroin, crack, and cocaine, limiting generalizability to other populations.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged 15-40, with a majority being male and Hispanic.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI = 1.3, 2.9
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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