The rate of opioid overdose has been growing in the United States and is now the leading cause of injury mortality. Additionally, opioid and polysubstance-involved overdose death rates have been rapidly increasing among adolescents and young adults. Alcohol use is also common among the young adult population and may be associated with alcohol-related problems. When alcohol and opioids are used together there is an increased risk of overdose through additive respiratory depressant effects. Simultaneous use of alcohol and opioids is also associated with increased risk of accident and injury. This study examines factors associated with simultaneous use of alcohol and prescription opioids among young adults.
The study’s sample consisted of 1,751 young adults age 18 to 25 years old living in Michigan. Participants completed a web-based survey that assessed demographic information including age, gender identity, race/ethnicity, highest level of education completed, and community of residence. Respondents were also asked to report their frequency of binge drinking over the past 30 days and simultaneous use of prescription pain relievers and alcohol in the past 30 days, in the past year, and within their lifetime. Participants were asked if they had been prescribed an opioid pain reliever in the past year and if they knew anyone who had died of an opioid overdose in the past 5 years. Lastly, mental well-being was assessed using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression models.
Results of the data analysis showed 31.8% of participants knew someone who died of an opioid overdose in the last 5 years and around 12% reported that they were prescribed an opioid in the past year. Approximately 81% of young adults reported past-month binge drinking with around 7% indicating simultaneous alcohol and prescription opioid use in the past year. Greater mental well-being status and higher education level were correlated with lower odds of simultaneous alcohol and prescription opioid use. On the other hand, knowing someone who had died of an overdose, past month binge drinking, and older age were associated with greater odds of simultaneous alcohol and opioid use.
Takeaway: High education levels ad good mental well-being status may serve as protective factors for simultaneous alcohol and prescription opioid use among young adults.