[Psychoactive drug use in a declared non-addicted control sample and comorbidity. Results of a study in 860 French-speaking subjects].
OBJECTIVE
This study, conducted within the framework of a broader research program of the INSERM 494013 Dependence Network, was designed to estimate illicit drug use and tobacco smoking in a declared non-addicted sample and to determine whether illicit drug users differ from non-users in terms of comorbidity.


METHODS
The study was conducted in an "all and sundry" sample of subjects. Patterns of drug use and comorbid factors (psychiatric disorders, suicide attempts, repeated accidents, social inadaptation) were assessed using a semi-structured interview (heteroevaluation, MINI DSM IV interview, Gröningen).


RESULTS
Among 860 subjects, 107 (12.4%) used illicit drugs and 26 of these 107 (24.3%) were dependent users or abusers. Specific analysis of non-dependent non-abuser subjects who had used illicit drugs (70 occasional and 11 regular users) showed a higher rate of use in younger subjects (12.7% in the 15-24 year group, 5.7% in the 24-49 year group) and men. Except for repeated accidents (OR=5.5 [1.6-18.5]), comorbid disorders were not more frequent in non-users than in users.


CONCLUSIONS
Besides use for recreational purposes, the rate of use of illicit drugs with abuse or dependence was high in our non-clinical sample. Although no specific comorbid psychiatric disorders were identified among non-dependent non-abuser subjects who had used illicit drugs, the frequency of repeated accidents evidenced the ill-fated side effects of illicit drugs and/or the specific biopsychological vulnerability of these subjects. This highlights the importance of not neglecting drug abuse.
Nezelof
S
S
Service de Psychiatrie et Psychologie Médicale, CHU Saint-Jacques, 25030 Besançon Cedex.
Taccoen
Y
Y
Corcos
M
M
Girardon
N
N
Perez-Diaz
F
F
Bizouard
P
P
Venisse
J L
JL
Halfon
O
O
Loas
G
G
Lang
F
F
Flament
M
M
Jeammet
P
P
D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry) / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs