CHARACTERISTICS OF INJECTION-DRUG USERS DERIVED FROM A LARGE FAMILY STUDY OF ALCOHOLISM

Most descriptive studies on injection drug users (IDUs) has used treat ment or referral samples. This study uses relatives ascertained throug h the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) to desc ribe patterns of drug use, psychiatric comorbidity, and selected high- risk behaviors among IDUs not ascertained through treatment or other r eferral networks. Relatives (N=5.520) of alcoholic probands were admin istered a semistructured interview, the Semistructured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism (SSAGA), which assesses lifetime psychiatri c symptoms and psychoactive substance use. IDUs were compared with tho se who had never used cannabis more than 20 times or other drugs more than 10 times (minimal drug use group). those who had used cannabis mo re than 20 times but no other illicit drugs more than 10 times (cannab is users), and those who had used other drugs more than 10 times but w ho had never injected (other drug users). Compared with other drug use rs, IDUs reported using more classes of drugs and began drug use at an earlier age. IDUs were significantly more likely to receive diagnoses of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and alcohol dependence. and reported elevated rates of suicidal ideas and attempts. IDUs were mor e likely to report a variety of behavioral difficulties beginning befo re age 15, and were more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behavior s. Half of the IDUs reported having shared needles; sharers were more likely to receive a diagnosis of ASPD, but did not differ on reporting high-risk behaviors. IDUs, regardless of whether selected through tre atment, have high lifetime rates of mood disturbance and ASPD, and are likely to have a history of conduct difficulties beginning before age 15 years and to subsequently engage in a variety of other high-risk b ehaviors. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.