Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions for Smoked Substances: 1992 to 2007. The Treatment Episode Data Set Report

摘要

Individuals using illicit drugs can often choose among several routes of administration, depending on the drug being used. Cocaine, for example, can be inhaled directly (snorted), smoked, or injected, and the effects and the duration of the high vary by the method of use selected. Each method, however, has an attendant set of potential health consequences, ranging from lung or heart damage to the risk of HIV and/or Hepatitis C infections. It is important for treatment providers to understand the shifting patterns of use of smoked substances and to be cognizant of the possible health consequences in order to provide appropriate interventions. The frequency of use of smoked substances among admissions to substance abuse treatment can be examined using the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). Using TEDS, this report examines changes in the drug use and demographic characteristics of substance abuse treatment admissions for smoked substances between 1992 and 2007.