title: Left-handedness is statistically linked to lifetime experimentation with illicit drugs.
abstract: Handedness has been linked to an enhanced risk of alcohol abuse, while less is known about other drugs. A convenience sample of 1004 male and female Italian participants (females=58%) from the general community (18 to 65 years old: average age = 30; standard deviation = 10, median = 25) was asked about: handedness (preference in writing); lifetime use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs; levels of psychological distress, as measured by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ); and levels of delusion proneness, as measured by the Peters et al. Delusions Inventory (PDI). Overall, 92 individuals (9.2%) were classified as left-handed, with no significant difference reported among genders. Lifetime use of illicit drugs, primarily cannabis, was reported by 20% of the sample. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, after taking into account sex, age, and caseness on GHQ and PDI, left-handed people in the sample were statistically more likely to report lifetime experimentation with heroin, ecstasy/amphetamine, and, marginally, hallucinogens, but not alcohol or tobacco. Different mechanisms might contribute to an explanation of greater lifetime experimentation with some illicit drugs among left-handed people as compared to right-handed people. However, replications with clinical samples are necessary before any definitive statements can be made.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. apreti@tin.it
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Preti
authors.forename: Ileana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Usai
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pintus
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sardu
authors.forename: Donatella Rita
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Petretto
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Masala
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003702:Delusions / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs