Prevalence of drug use in three cohorts of young Swedish women

• The study presents prevalence of drug use among 1123 women aged 20 and 25 years in Göteborg, Sweden. The aim of the study was to measure prevalence of illegal and legal drug use in three cross-sectional cohorts interviewed in 1990, 1995 and 2000 as well as to describe the development of drug use within the same period. Prevalence was calculated for illicit and licit drug use in total and for three different patterns of drug use; narcotics only, medications only or a combination of the use of these substances. Also presented is the frequency of drug use. Further was analysed trends in changes of the use of nine specified drugs. Results: Both life-time and 12-months use of illicit drugs was significantly higher for 20-year-old women in 2000 (from 20.2% to 33.4% and from 9.5% to 22.3% respectively). The use of licit drugs was highest (but not significant) among 25-year-old women in 1990. Cannabis was the most prevalent drug used with a significant increase in life-time use for 20-year-old women from 17,4% to 28,8%. Both age-groups reported significant increases in the use of heroin, 25-year-old women in use of psychedelica and 20-year-old women in use of other drugs. Conclusions: The prevalence rates found were higher than compared to contemporary studies in Sweden. Further was found a significant trend for using both illegal and legal drugs among the youngest cohort, and a tendency for more regular use of drugs in both age-groups in 2000.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Prevalence

illegal drug use

legal drug use

young women

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)