Background: In China, over 5 million people have been identified and registered by the public security institutions for using illicit drugs. The aim of this study is to compare the influence of different types of illicit drugs on the self-reported mental health of Chinese people. In particular, we want to assess the damage of Heroin, Methamphetamine and Ketamine to mental health in a social environment where drug use is strictly regulated.
Methods: The study is based on survey with 6,906 people who use drugs in Guangdong province, China. Risk of mental health issue is measured using the Brief Symptoms Inventory 18 (BSI-18) Scale, and a higher BSI-18 score indicates more severe mental health problems. The data was analyzed through multilevel regression analysis, propensity score matching analysis and mediation analysis.
Results: The three major types of illicit drugs have both moderating and mediating effects on the length of drug-use history, that Heroin use leads to longer drug-use duration, while Ketamine use causes more damage on mental health per unit time of drug-use duration. Average duration of Methamphetamine use is 0.7 year shorter than average duration of Heroin use, and average duration of Ketamine use is 1.7 year shorter than average duration of Heroin use. For each year of increase of drug-use duration, Ketamine use leads to 1.2 times more of BSI score increase than Heroin use, and 2.3 times more of BSI score increase than Methamphetamine use.
Conclusion: These three drugs are associated with severe mental health issue in a society with strict drug regulation. Attention should be paid to the mental health of people regardless of the type of drugs they use.
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11420112 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1431854 | DOI Listing |
JMIR Form Res
January 2025
Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States.
Background: Social media has become a widely used way for people to share opinions about health care and medical topics. Social media data can be leveraged to understand patient concerns and provide insight into why patients may turn to the internet instead of the health care system for health advice.
Objective: This study aimed to develop a method to investigate Reddit posts discussing health-related conditions.
JAMA Netw Open
January 2025
The GW Cancer Center, Washington, DC.
JAMA Netw Open
January 2025
Department of Health Behavior, Society, and Policy, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey.
JAMA Netw Open
January 2025
Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.
Importance: Limited research explores mental health disparities between individuals in sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations and cisgender heterosexual (non-SGM) populations using national-level data.
Objective: To explore mental health disparities between SGM and non-SGM populations across sexual orientation, sex assigned at birth, and gender identity within the All of Us Research Program.
Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study used survey data and linked electronic health records of eligible All of Us Research Program participants from May 31, 2017, to June 30, 2022.
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