Prescription drug abuse among persons with disabilities

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Brucker, Debra L.

Affiliations: State of Maine, Office of Substance Abuse, 11 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333, USA. Tel.: +1 207 287 2597; E-mail: mbrucker@maine.rr.com

Abstract: Using 2006 adult substance abuse treatment admissions data (N = 12,639) from the State of Maine Treatment Data System (TDS), this analysis examines whether issues of prescription drug abuse are more common among persons with disabilities than among other persons participating in substance abuse treatment. Results suggest that persons with mental illness who are participating in treatment are significantly more likely to be abusing prescription drugs and opiates. Persons with developmental disabilities are significantly less likely to abuse prescription drugs and opiates than other persons in treatment. Persons with and without disabilities who had primary problems with alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana were found to be at significantly decreased risk of having a secondary problem of opiate abuse. Implications for vocational rehabilitation professionals are discussed.

Keywords: Disability, prescription drug abuse, substance abuse treatment

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 105-115, 2008