8/13/2019 CPDD Heroin Poster

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Differences in Characteristics of Heroin Inhalers and Injectorsat Admission to Treatment

J. C. Maxwell, R. T. Spence, & T. M. Bohman

UT Center for Social Work Research

Introduction Results Discussion

Purpose: to understand why heroin i nhalers (snorters) in Texas enter treatment

sooner than injectors.

This study extends earlier findings by comparing the characteristics of heroin

injectors versus inhalers at their first admission to publicly-funded treatment using

CODAP/TEDS data.

This study will build on earlier studies, but looks at differences in patterns of

heroin use in a much larger sample characterized both by its race/ethnic diversity

and by the use of black tar heroin, a type of heroin primarily seen only in the

western United States and Mexico.

This project has three phases:

1) analysis of CODAP/TEDS data on clients who had a primary problem with

heroin;

2) in-depth interviews with heroin users in public and private programs; and

3) interviews and focus groups with heroin inhalers and injectors who are not in

treatment.

This poster reports on the first phase only.

Sample

Analysis

Limitations/Further Study

9,732 unduplicated adults who were first admissions to TCADA-funded residential,

outpatient drug-free, or outpatient methadone treatment programs between

January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2001.

Clients had a primary problem with either inhaled or injected heroin which they

had used in the month prior to admission.

While they were first admissions to TCADA programs, 64% had been treated

previously in non-TCADA-funded programs.

92.5% were injectors and 7.5% were inhalers.

Mean age at admission was 35.8 years (SD 10.6). Age of first use of heroin was

22.9 years (SD 8.0).

The mean lag between first use and admission to TCADA-funded treatment was13.5 years (SD 10.8).

69% were male; 49% were Hispanic, 40% were Anglo, and 12% were African

American.

Average annual legal income was $5,522; 17% were employed and education

level was 11.1 years.

75% lived with their families, 28% were married or co-habiting with a partner, 11%

were homeless, and 30% were involved with the criminal justice or legal system.

33% reported a secondary problem with powder cocaine, 12% with alcohol, 7%

with marijuana, and 4% with crack cocaine; 38% reported no problems with other

drugs.

Statistical models included a generalized linear model with the outcome

modeled as a binomial and multinomial distribution and a hierarchical linear

model for continuous outcomes.

The Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) model was used to account for the

variation in heroin user characteristics due to treatment program.

All analyses were conducted using SAS v8.

Comparisons of Heroin Injectors and Inhalers on Demographic,Criminal Justice Status, Treatment, Drug Use, and Substance

Abuse Impairment Characteristics

Demographics Injectors S.E. Inhalers S.E. Pr> |t]Age at Admission 36.0 0.482 31.0 0.614