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Dilaudid use: trends and characteristics of users
Chemical Dependencies
|January 1, 1980
Summary
Dilaudid use significantly increased among individuals in drug treatment programs, rising from 1% in 1974 to 10% by late 1977. Users were often white, middle-class, and used Dilaudid intravenously, sometimes as a heroin substitute.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Addiction Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Dilaudid (hydromorphone) is a potent opioid analgesic.
- Understanding trends in prescription opioid misuse is crucial for public health.
- Drug treatment program admissions provide insight into substance use patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and user demographics of Dilaudid misuse.
- To analyze the patterns of Dilaudid use within a specific patient population.
- To compare Dilaudid users with other drug-using populations.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of patient data from drug treatment programs.
- Data collected over a four-year period (1974-1977).
- Comparison of demographic and usage characteristics between Dilaudid users and other drug users.
Main Results:
- Dilaudid use increased from 1% in 1974 to 10% by late 1977 among admitted individuals.
- Dilaudid users were more likely to be white and middle-class compared to other drug users.
- Intravenous Dilaudid administration, street acquisition, and concurrent heroin use were common among Dilaudid users.
Conclusions:
- Dilaudid use demonstrated a significant upward trend in the studied population.
- Dilaudid users exhibited distinct demographic and behavioral characteristics.
- Findings suggest Dilaudid can be integrated into a heroin-using lifestyle and may function as a substitute.
- Dilaudid users shared characteristics with the 'Southern addict' profile.