title: Drug use and somatic illnesses with psychological component: a nation-wide survey among adolescents and adults in Greece.
abstract: A cross-sectional home survey on drug use, mental health, somatic illnesses and psychosocial issues was carried out with a nation-wide multi-stage probability sample of 4,292 persons aged 12-17, 18-24 and 25-64. This article aims at investigating the relationship of specific categories of somatic illnesses with a psychological component to the use of licit and illicit drugs. For the purpose of analysis the total sample was divided into three mutually exclusive groups: group A included respondents who have reported illicit drug use 1-3 or more times in their lives; group B comprised respondents who have reported the use of licit psychotropic drugs 3 or more times in their lives; group C included non-user respondents. A higher proportion of respondents of groups A and B of both sexes in all three age strata reported the presence of a specific somatic illness such as bronchial asthma, essential hypertension, peptic ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatitis or eczema, in comparison to group C (non-user) respondents. This difference was greater in the adolescent group 12-17 years of age. Possible explanations of the association between somatic illness with a psychological component and drug use are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry Medical School, University of Athens Eginition Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Madianos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Madianou-Gefou
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Stefanis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D012803:Sick Role; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs