title: Trajectories of heroin addiction: growth mixture modeling results based on a 33-year follow-up study.
abstract: This study investigates trajectories of heroin use and subsequent consequences in a sample of 471 male heroin addicts who were admitted to the California Civil Addict Program in 1964-1965 and followed over 33 years. Applying a two-part growth mixture modeling strategy to heroin use level during the first 16 years of the addiction careers since first heroin use, the authors identified three groups with distinctive profiles: stably high-level heroin users (n = 278), late decelerated users (n = 149), and early quitters (n = 44). Study findings empirically demonstrate the chronic nature of heroin addiction and subsequent adverse consequences including mortality, mental health, and employment.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Yih-Ing
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Hser
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chih-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: M Douglas
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Anglin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D003932:Heroin; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003932:Heroin