Relationship between illicit drug use and health conditions: Results from the 2005 and 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health

This is the first study examining the complex relationship between illicit drug use and health conditions based on a recent nationally representative sample of 130,000 respondents. Starting in 2005, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) included items on health conditions respondents experienced in their lifetime and in the past year. These conditions include asthma, bronchitis, cirrhosis of the liver, depression, diabetes, heart disease, hepatitis, high blood pressure, HIV/AIDS, lung cancer, pancreatitis, pneumonia, sexually transmitted disease, sinusitis, sleep apnea, stroke, tinnitus, tuberculosis, and ulcers. First, we present the prevalence of these conditions among the general U.S. population and among users of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco in the United States. Second, we investigate the specific relationship between the use of specific illicit drugs and health conditions, while controlling for factors, such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, health insurance, alcohol and tobacco use. In addition, relevant policy implications will be discussed.