Illegal drug use amongst male UK military personnel who sustained physical combat injuries: The ADVANCE cohort study

IF 3.7 2区医学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Addictive behaviors Pub Date : 2025-01-27 DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108269

Daniel Dyball , Susie Schofield , Alexander N. Bennett , Christopher J. Boos , Anthony M.J. Bull , Nicola T. Fear , on behalf of the ADVANCE Study

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Illegal drug use may be a consequence of sustaining a serious physical combat injury, though no known research has investigated this in a UK setting. This analysis utilises the baseline data from a longitudinal cohort (ADVANCE), to assess whether 577 UK military personnel who sustained serious physical combat injuries reported more illegal drug use compared to 565 frequency-matched personnel without such injuries.

Most personnel reported no illegal drug use in the past year (88.7%). Cocaine was the most common drug reported in the past year, followed by cannabis. Injured personnel had greater odds of reporting illegal drug use in the past year compared to the comparison group (injured group: 16.3%, comparison group: 5.4%; Odds Ratio (OR) 3.09 (95% CI 2.03, 5.31)), however, no differences were observed amongst veterans in each group (OR 0.67 (95% CI 0.40, 1.27)). Higher prevalence of illegal drug use was observed amongst those of white ethnic background, lower rank, those who were single, younger, veterans, and those who reported a probable mental illness, suicidal ideation or heavy alcohol use/tobacco use. Veterans who left service at a younger age and with a shorter length of service were also identified as having higher prevalence of illegal drug use.

UK Armed Forces personnel who sustained serious physical combat injuries in Afghanistan report more illegal drug use in the past year compared to demographically similar personnel without serious physical injury. Greater prevalence of illegal drug use was evident in those that left service, with >20 % of veterans reporting illegal drug use in the past year.

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来源期刊

Addictive behaviors 医学-药物滥用

CiteScore

8.40

自引率

4.50%

发文量

283

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Addictive Behaviors is an international peer-reviewed journal publishing high quality human research on addictive behaviors and disorders since 1975. The journal accepts submissions of full-length papers and short communications on substance-related addictions such as the abuse of alcohol, drugs and nicotine, and behavioral addictions involving gambling and technology. We primarily publish behavioral and psychosocial research but our articles span the fields of psychology, sociology, psychiatry, epidemiology, social policy, medicine, pharmacology and neuroscience. While theoretical orientations are diverse, the emphasis of the journal is primarily empirical. That is, sound experimental design combined with valid, reliable assessment and evaluation procedures are a requisite for acceptance. However, innovative and empirically oriented case studies that might encourage new lines of inquiry are accepted as well. Studies that clearly contribute to current knowledge of etiology, prevention, social policy or treatment are given priority. Scholarly commentaries on topical issues, systematic reviews, and mini reviews are encouraged. We especially welcome multimedia papers that incorporate video or audio components to better display methodology or findings. Studies can also be submitted to Addictive Behaviors? companion title, the open access journal Addictive Behaviors Reports, which has a particular interest in ''non-traditional'', innovative and empirically-oriented research such as negative/null data papers, replication studies, case reports on novel treatments, and cross-cultural research.