Estimated intelligence and long-term outcomes of opioid addicts

This study estimated intellectual functioning based upon a demographic profile (DP) for Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) Full Scale IQ in order to determine its relationship with variables representing initiation, continuation, relapse, and cessation of daily opioid use. The DP Estimated IQs were used to describe a large former opioid addict sample from the 12-year follow-up study of the Drug Abuse Reporting Program (DARP). Results were compared with those from previous studies using meta-analysis. In addition, a correlational analysis was performed. Average DP Estimated IQs for the DARP sample were comparable to mean IQs for both the WAIS-R standardization sample and previous studies. DP Estimated IQ was significantly related to length of addiction career; the higher the estimated IQ, the shorter the career. Other more complex relationships were found for variables used to represent intraindividual factors such as satisfaction with self or family, interpersonal factors such as family or peer influences, and other variables of interest.