Stimulant use and increased severity of opioid use disorder and mental illness in patients with co-occurring disorders.
Mariah M Kalmin, Christina Crowley, Alexandra Bilder et al.
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In 30 seconds
This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between stimulant use and the severity of opioid use disorder (OUD) and mental illness in primary care patients with co-occurring depression and/or PTSD. Among 797 participants, those using stimulants daily (15.4%) or non-daily (20.6%) exhibited greater severity of symptoms and lower treatment utilization compared to non-users (64%).
Key findings
- Daily stimulant users had significantly higher rates of recent overdose (p < 0.001) compared to non-users.
- Participants using stimulants showed greater severity of depression/PTSD symptoms (p < 0.001).
- Stimulant use was associated with lower rates of receiving therapy (p = 0.004) or medication (p < 0.001) for mental health conditions.
- Stimulant users reported more unmet social needs, including education and housing status (p < 0.001).
Why it matters
Understanding the impact of stimulant use on patients with OUD and co-occurring mental illness is crucial for improving treatment outcomes. Clinicians can better tailor interventions by recognizing the increased severity of symptoms and barriers to care associated with stimulant use.