title: Use trajectories of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) in Shanghai, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) use is an important issue that has caused growing concerns in China as well as other countries, the knowledge of long-term patterns of ATS use in China is limited. This study explored long-term patterns of ATS use in Shanghai, China, and compared the differences by ATS use trajectory groups, seeking to identify risk factors that have implications for the development of targeted intervention programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 377 ATS users were recruited from the Compulsory Isolation Center for Drug Rehabilitation in Shanghai. Group-based trajectory modeling was applied to identify distinctive trajectories of ATS use over 8 years at the time of interviews conducted in 2012. The mean number of days using ATS per month over a year from years 2005 to 2012 was analyzed with a censored normal model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three distinctive groups were identified: high-use (19.1%), low-use (66.0%), and increasing-use (14.9%). Relative to the low-use group, the high-use and increasing-use groups were more likely to report having used opiate-type drugs and to have more craving experiences. Psychiatric symptoms following ATS use were frequently reported, with ATS users in the increasing-use and high-use groups more likely to report depression symptoms and suicide behaviors compared to the low-use group. The low-use and increasing-use groups reported more months in drug abuse treatment programs compared to the high-use group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Addressing ATS use should take into consideration patients' use-related psychiatric symptoms as well as other risk factors, particularly among those with persistent high-level ATS use trajectories.
authors: Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China.
authors: Jiang
authors: J
authors: Du
authors: Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China.
authors: Haiming
authors: H
authors: Sun
authors: UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, University of California, Los Angeles, 90025, USA.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Huang
authors: Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China.
authors: Haifeng
authors: H
authors: Jiang
authors: Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China.
authors: Na
authors: N
authors: Zhong
authors: Shanghai Bureau of Reeducation-through-Labor Administration, Shanghai 200237, China.
authors: Ding
authors: D
authors: Xu
authors: Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China.
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Zhao
authors: Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China.
authors: Shuxing
authors: S
authors: Lin
authors: Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China.
authors: Wenwen
authors: W
authors: Wang
authors: Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China.
authors: Zheyi
authors: Z
authors: Du
authors: Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China. Electronic address: drminzhao@gmail.com.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Zhao
authors: UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, University of California, Los Angeles, 90025, USA; China Medical University at Taiwan, Taiwan. Electronic address: yhser@ucla.edu.
authors: Yih-Ing
authors: YI
authors: Hser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D000661:Amphetamine
keywords: Amphetamine-type stimulants; Dependence; Trajectories