title: Illicit use of opioids: is OxyContin a "gateway drug"?
abstract: This study examines whether individuals who engage in illicit, non-medical use of OxyContin are distinguishable from other non-medical users of opioids and whether OxyContin serves as a "gateway" to heroin and/or injection drug use. The study sample included active nonmedical users of opioids, who are 16 years or older and residents of Cumberland County, Maine. Possible associations between type of opioid used and behavioral and descriptive variables were assessed. The study sample was predominantly urban-dwelling, male, Caucasian, and economically disadvantaged. OxyContin users could only be distinguished from heroin users (cf non-heroin opioid users). Polyopioid use within the first year of initiation was associated with quicker progression to heroin and injection drug use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8034, USA. grau@yale.edu
authors.forename: Lauretta E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Grau
authors.forename: Nabarun
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dasgupta
authors.forename: Alison Phinney
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Irwin
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Givens
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kinzly
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heimer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008281:Maine / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010098:Oxycodone; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D010098:Oxycodone