The association between abused adults and substance abuse in Taiwan, 2000-2015

To investigate whether adults suffering from violence were at risk of substance abuse and provides insight into the relationship between male and female abusers and substance abuse from 2000 to 2015 in Taiwan.

This study used data on outpatient, emergency, and inpatient visits for 2 million people enrolled in universal health insurance from 2000 to 2015. ICD-9 diagnosis codes 995.8 (abused adult) and E960-E969 (homicide and injury purposely inflicted by other persons) were defined in this case study, analyzing first-time violence in adults aged 18-64 (study group). Non-abused patients (control group) were matched in a 1:4 ratio, and the paired variables were gender, age (± 1 year), pre-exposure Charlson Comorbidity Index, and year of medical treatment. SAS 9.4 and Cox regression were used for data analysis.

A total of 8,726 people suffered violence (control group: 34,904 people) over 15 years. The prevalence of substance abuse among victims of violence was 78.3/10⁴, 61.9/10⁴, and 51.5/10⁴ for tobacco use disorder, alcoholism, and alcohol abuse, respectively. The risk (adults, overall) of drug abuse, drug dependence, and alcoholism after exposure to violence (average 9 years) was 7.47, 7.15, and 6.86 times (p < 0.01), respectively, compared with those without violence. The risk (adults, males) of drug abuse, drug dependence, and alcohol abuse after exposure to violence (average 9 years) was 6.85, 6.27, and 6.07 times, respectively, higher than those without violence (p < 0.01). Risks of drug dependence, alcohol abuse and alcoholism (adults, females) after exposure to violence (average 9 years) were 14.92, 12.26, and 11.55 times, respectively, higher than non-abused ones (p < 0.01).

The risks of substance abuse, after adult violence, are higher than in those who have not suffered violent injuries.