Table 2.
Patient Substance Abuse Characteristics.
| Mean (sd) | |
|---|---|
| Age of onset amphetamine abuse | 21.4 (7.4) |
| Amphetamine usage (y.i.l.) | 13.3 (8.6) |
| Intravenous usage (73.8%)1 (y.i.l.) | 8.8 (9.6) |
| Amphetamine abstinent weeks before MR-scan | 7.6 (10.2) |
| Age of onset any alcohol2 | 16.2 (4.0) |
| Any alcohol use (y.i.l.) | 9.4 (9.8) |
| Age of onset heavy alcohol3 | 16.6 (4.6) |
| Heavy alcohol use (y.i.l.) | 8.6 (10.2) y.i.l |
| Nicotine use | 90.0% |
| Heroin (y.i.l.) | 0.1 (0.4) |
| Pain relievers (opiates or equivalent) (y.i.l.) | 1.1 (4.4) |
| Benzedrine (y.i.l.) | 1.4 (4.5) |
| Cocaine (y.i.l.) | 0.6 (1.8) |
| Cannabis (y.i.l.) | 5.1 (6.5) |
| Hallucinogenics (y.i.l.) | 0.5 (1.7) |
| Inhalants (y.i.l.) | 0.3 (1.3) |
| Multiple drug use (y.i.l.) | 6.6 (9.5) |
Abbreviation: y.i.l. = years in life.
1 73.8% The ASI does not ask which drug was used intravenously. The remaining ASI questions, as well as patient histories, suggest that for the current sample the intravenous usage was primarily amphetamine.
2A regular use of alcohol (less than 4 (for women) or 5 (for men) drinks per occasion). Four patients responded that they never began to consume any amount of alcohol regularly.
3A regular heavy use of alcohol (More than 4 (for women) or 5 (for men) drinks per occasion) Five patients responded that they never began to consume alcohol heavily.
Clinical characteristics obtained from ASI in patients with amphetamine dependence. Completers = 40.