Psychiatry · Pediatrics · 3 h ago
Youth with depression report higher prescription drug misuse and use disorder
A cross-sectional analysis of 2023–2024 US survey data found higher odds of prescription psychotherapeutic drug misuse and use disorder among adolescents and young adults reporting a past-year major depressive episode. Some misuse of opioid analgesics and tranquilizers was more often attributed to managing feelings and emotions.
- Past-year depression was reported by 16.3% of participants.
- Depression was associated with higher odds of drug misuse.
- Use-disorder odds were four times higher with depression.
- Some medication misuse was motivated by managing emotions.
Researchers analyzed data from 50,629 adolescents aged 12–17 years and young adults aged 18–25 years in the 2023 and 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The cross-sectional study assessed past-year major depressive episodes, prescription psychotherapeutic drug misuse and use disorder, and reported reasons for misuse.
A past-year major depressive episode was reported by 16.3% of respondents, representing an estimated 9.8 million people nationally. Among those with an episode, 6.6% reported prescription psychotherapeutic drug misuse and 6.0% met criteria for a use disorder. Compared with peers without a past-year episode, they had higher odds of misuse (odds ratio, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.75–2.50) and use disorder (odds ratio, 4.02; 95% CI, 3.37–4.80). Misuse to manage feelings or emotions was more frequently reported for opioid analgesics and tranquilizers among youths with depression.
The findings identify an association, not a causal pathway. Because the analysis was cross-sectional and based on survey reports, it cannot establish whether depression preceded misuse or how well the results translate to individual clinical settings. The authors highlight integrated mental health and substance use treatment as an area of need.
Is this summary clinically accurate?
Help fellow clinicians: your rating sends inaccurate summaries straight to our editors.
Sign in to rate this summary →Source
JAMA Network Open: Substance Misuse Prevalence and Risk Factors in Adolescents and Young Adults With Depression ↗This is an automated AI-condensed summary that has not yet been reviewed by an editor. Always consult the full item at the original source.