NC West Virginia News

Adults with disabilities are nearly twice as likely to misuse prescription drugs compared to those without disabilities, according to research conducted by West Virginia University. Jeanette Garcia, an associate professor at the WVU College of Applied Human Sciences, emphasized the need for urgent measures to address this issue.

"Almost 10% of the individuals with disabilities in our sample reported misusing prescription drugs within the past year, compared to 4.4% of individuals without disabilities," Garcia stated. The study highlighted that cognitive disabilities and young adults showed the highest rates of drug misuse, with pain relievers being the most commonly misused drugs.

The research team analyzed data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which included responses from 47,100 adults. Of these participants, approximately 10.9% reported having at least one disability affecting vision, hearing, movement, cognition, self-care or communication.

The study tracked misuse of prescription stimulants like amphetamines, tranquilizers such as benzodiazepines and pain relievers including opioids. These substances are known for their addictive properties and potential side effects. The findings were published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Garcia noted that "compared to adults without disabilities, adults with disabilities reported more misuse," particularly among those younger than 30 across all drug categories—stimulants, tranquilizers and painkillers. She suggested focusing preventive efforts on young adults or adolescents with disabilities due to their vulnerability to prescription drug misuse.

Individuals with disabilities often face risk factors for prescription drug misuse such as chronic pain, anxiety and depression. They may receive prescriptions more frequently but are less likely to be advised about potential dangers associated with improper use.

Misuse was highest among those with cognitive and self-care difficulties across all examined drug categories: stimulants like Adderall; tranquilizers like Xanax; and pain relievers like Oxycontin. For instance, a significant rate of 27% was observed for pain reliever misuse among adults aged 30-49 with cognitive impairments.

People suffering from traumatic brain injuries are at increased risk due to chronic pain and impulse control issues leading them towards opioid prescriptions. Additionally, cognitive difficulties can contribute towards sleep disorders or mental health conditions linked directly back into tranquilizer abuse patterns seen throughout this demographic groupings overall behavior trends when dealing alongside ADHD symptoms which correlate heavily around stimulant usage rates too.

While similar patterns emerged between groups regarding stimulant/tranquilizer abuses regardless if they had any form(s) disability present within themselves already beforehand - discrepancies arose concerning specifically how older populations handled situations involving potentially dangerous levels consumption habits related solely onto just one particular type alone: namely opiate-based medications whereupon marked increases appeared especially pronounced whenever comparing results against counterparts lacking said challenges entirely altogether instead!

Garcia speculated these findings could stem partly because chronic conditions worsen over time necessitating greater reliance upon prescribed interventions thereby increasing likelihoods further still beyond mere statistical averages alone necessarily account fully everything involved here today now either way ultimately speaking though conclusively enough nonetheless finally ending up right back where started initially perhaps once again repeating cycle anew indefinitely until resolved satisfactorily someday hopefully soon eventually thereafter likewise similarly...

"Physicians and policymakers need awareness high rates we're seeing especially among adults cognitive/self-care difficulties," Garcia concluded."We've pinpointed specific risks next step exploring severity/additional conditions' impact likelihood misusing uppers/downers/narcotics."