Abstract
Background: Previous research suggests gender differences exist in types of substances used and age of first use. Recent studies exploring contextual differences in substance use between rural Appalachian and urban environments show different patterns of substance use in rural environments. Objective: This study explores whether previously established differences in gender and age of first use exist within a rural Appalachian environment. Methods: Data are from a community-based study of drug users in rural Appalachia (N=400). Self-reported substance use was recorded using an interviewer-administered questionnaire with questions from the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). Results: On average, participants were 32 years old (=32.33; median=31.00; interquartile range (IQR)=12) and the majority were male (59%). Examining the past 30-day substance use, more males reported alcohol (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2.11, 95% CI: 1.36, 3.23; p=.001) and any illegal drug use (AOR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.16, 2.95; p=.010), which included heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and hallucinogens, after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. ANCOVA analyses showed that males reported the use of alcohol (p=.000), marijuana (p=.007), and hallucinogens (p=.009) at a significantly younger age than females. Conclusion: Findings suggest more men report the use of alcohol and "street" drugs, including heroin, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and hallucinogens. Furthermore, males report the use of alcohol, marijuana, and hallucinogens at a significantly younger age. Scientific Significance: Understanding gender differences in substance use as well as other differences among individuals living in rural Appalachia presents important opportunities to incorporate this knowledge into substance abuse early intervention, prevention, and treatment efforts.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 98-104 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 2011 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01-DA024598; Jennifer Havens, Principal Investigator). We would also like to thank the study staff and participants in the SNAP study.
Funding Information:
Data for this study were collected as part of a larger longitudinal study of social networks and HIV risk among rural Appalachian drug users funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse. The primary aims of the study are to examine HIV and other infectious complications associated with drug use.
Funding
The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01-DA024598; Jennifer Havens, Principal Investigator). We would also like to thank the study staff and participants in the SNAP study. Data for this study were collected as part of a larger longitudinal study of social networks and HIV risk among rural Appalachian drug users funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse. The primary aims of the study are to examine HIV and other infectious complications associated with drug use.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| National Institutes of Health (NIH) | |
| National Institute on Drug Abuse | R01DA024598 |
Keywords
- Gender
- Rural Appalachia
- Substance use
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
