Gateway Drugs
A new study suggests that abuse of prescription opioids may be a first step on the path toward injecting illicit drugs like heroin.
Researchers found that four out of five injecting drug users misused a prescribed opioid drug before they injected heroin.
The study found that risk factors for misusing prescription drugs were a family history of drug misuse and access to prescription medications.
The University of Philadelphia studied 50 injecting drug users between the ages of 16 and 25 who had all misused a prescription drug in the past three months.
Nearly three quarters of participants had been prescribed a prescription opioid for dental procedures or sports injuries.
Most had one or more family members that had misused one or more substances.
(Source: International Journal of Drug Policy, 25 July 2011)
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-
This study which identified risk factors for injecting drug use is useful to identify those at risk.
Once identified, careful monitoring of those at risk can watch for signs of progression to illicit drug use.
Cannabis is a gateway drug to injecting drug use as well.
It is now clear that both prescription opioids and illicit drug use are gateways into injecting other drugs like heroin, cocaine and ICE.
Identified illicit drug users should be directed into court supervised drug rehabilitation that has as its specific objective of getting users off drugs quickly and permanently.
THE DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS-
More detoxification & rehabilitation that gets illicit drug users drug free.
Court ordered and supervised detoxification & rehabilitation.
Less illicit drug users, drug pushers and drug related crimes.
26/2011
