NONFATAL INJURIES AND THE USE OF PSYCHOACTIVE-DRUGS AMONG YOUNG-ADULTS IN SPAIN

We compared the prevalence of injuries requiring medical treatment in the general population, in cocaine users and in heroin users, and we s tudied the factors associated with the occurrence of injuries in these groups, using data from two interview surveys carried out in 1993 in Spain: the National Health Interview Survey, a national representative sample of the non-institutionalized general population, and a survey of a non-probability sample of heroin or cocaine users selected from t he community. The subjects included in the study were persons 16-40 ye ars of age in urban areas: 4261 persons from the general population, 3 69 cocaine users and 215 heroin users. The annual prevalence of injuri es requiring medical treatment was 7.9% in the general population, 10. 8% in cocaine users and 35.2% in heroin users. There was a statistical ly significant positive association of injury occurrence (1) among the general population: with male sex, alcohol use, use of tranquillizers /sleeping pills, and the use of antidepressants or stimulants; (2) in cocaine users: with the use of opiates other than heroin; and (3) in h eroin users: with alcohol use, the use of tranquillizers/sleeping pill s, and the injected route. The only statistically significant negative association was with the amount of cocaine consumed among heroin user s. The results suggest that other psychoactive substances besides alco hol are positively associated with injury occurrence, and that cocaine use may contribute to a reduced risk of injuries associated with the use of depressants (alcohol, tranquillizers, heroin).