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Perceived stress and substance use in methadone-maintained smokers
Ethan Moitra1, Bradley J Anderson, Michael D Stein
1Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
|September 10, 2013
Summary
High perceived stress in methadone maintenance treatment programs (MMTPs) is linked to increased hazardous alcohol, cocaine, and benzodiazepine use. Cigarette smoking may not be enough for stress management in these patients.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Medicine
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- 80-90% of patients in methadone maintenance treatment programs (MMTPs) smoke cigarettes.
- Patients in MMTPs face significant life stress, often self-medicating with nicotine and other substances.
- Using substances to cope with stress may increase the risk of illicit opiate relapse.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between perceived stress and substance abuse in MMTP patients.
- To determine if perceived stress is associated with hazardous alcohol use and recent illicit substance use.
Main Methods:
- 315 cigarette smokers from nine MMTPs participated in a smoking cessation study.
- Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between perceived stress and substance use indicators.
- Adjusted analyses controlled for demographic and smoking-related variables.
Main Results:
- Perceived stress was significantly associated with hazardous drinking (OR=1.13).
- Perceived stress was positively associated with recent cocaine use (OR=1.18).
- Perceived stress was linked to recent benzodiazepine use (OR=1.24).
Conclusions:
- Perceived stress may serve as a marker for increased risk of illicit substance use in MMTP patients.
- Cigarette smoking alone may be insufficient for stress management in this population.
- Methadone-maintained individuals may use other substances to alleviate stress, potentially increasing relapse risk.
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