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KMID : 0870520110150010028
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Journal of Korean Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
2011 Volume.15 No. 1 p.28 ~ p.34
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Correlation between the Age of the First Use of Substances and the Anxiety, Depression, and Characteristics of Substance Use in the Patients with Substance Use Disorder
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Kwak Yeo-In
Joe Keun-Ho
Kim Yang-Tae
Kwon Do-Hoon
Kim Dai-Jin
Cho Sung-Nam
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Abstract
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Objectives ： The purpose of this study was to investigate as how the age at the first use of substance influences the psychiatric symptoms such as, depression, anxiety and the characteristics of substance use in the patients with substance abuse or dependence.
Methods ： Self-administered questionnaire were applied to a total of 447 drug addicts (including those admitted
at medical institutions or confinement installations, and those under probation) and ex-addicts, who had been through recovery from addiction at medical/rehabilitation centers. Participants were classified into 4 groups, 0-19 years, 20-29 years, 30-39 years, and older than 40 years, according to the age at which the substance was first used. Psychiatric assessments were based on BDI, BAI, SCL-90-R. The data were statistically analyzed by SPSS 15.0.
Result ： The average age of participants was 44 years. The number of patients, who used the substance for the first time during 0-19 years of age were 102, in their 20-29 years of age were 146, in their 30-39 years of age were 126, and when they were 40 years and older were 63. Use of substance at an early age was correlated with more frequent use of other illegal substances, high er rate of dependence on the substance, higher frequency of liver diseases and legal problems.
Amongst the 4 groups, there were significant differences in Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory.
Conclusion ： The earlier use of substance may lead to more serious problems of drug abuse and correlated with higher risk of development of psychiatric symptoms including, anxiety and depression. Such a condition can lead to degradation of patient’s quality of life and would complicate the treatment procedure. An earlier education to the adolescents about harmful effects of drug use and addiction in conjunction with earlier relevant psychiatric evaluations of substance abusers should also be provided.
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KEYWORD
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Age, Characteristics, Substance use, Depression, Anxiety
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