The latent structure and predictors of non-medical prescription drug use and prescription drug use disorders: a national study.
BACKGROUND
Despite growing concerns about non-medical prescription drug use and prescription drug use disorders, whether vulnerability for these conditions is drug-specific or occurs through a shared liability and common risk factors is unknown.


METHODS
Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis of Wave 1 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions were used to examine the latent structure of non-medical prescription drug use and prescription drug use disorders. Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) analysis was used to examine whether the effect of sociodemographic and psychiatric covariates occurred through the latent factor, directly on each drug class or both.


RESULTS
A one-factor model described well the structure of both non-medical prescription drug use and prescription drug use disorders. Younger age, being White, having more intense pain or one of several psychiatric disorders increased the risk of non-medical prescription drug use through the latent factor. The same covariates, except for anxiety disorders also significantly increased the risk of prescription drug use disorders through the latent factor. Older age directly increased the risk of non-medical use of sedatives, and alcohol use disorders decreased the risk of non-medical tranquilizer use. No covariates had direct effects on the risk of any prescription drug use disorders beyond their effect through the latent factor.


CONCLUSION
The risk for non-medical prescription drug use and prescription drug use disorders occurs through a shared liability. Treatment, prevention and policy approaches directed at these drugs as a group maybe more effective than those focused on individual classes of drugs.
['Blanco|Carlos|C|', 'Rafful|Claudia|C|', 'Wall|Melanie M|MM|', 'Jin|Chelsea J|CJ|', 'Kerridge|Bradley|B|', 'Schwartz|Robert P|RP|']
D000293:Adolescent D000437:Alcoholism D000701:Analgesics, Opioid D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents D001007:Anxiety D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders D005260:Female D006801:Humans D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives D008297:Male D008694:Methamphetamine D010146:Pain D010147:Pain Measurement D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse D019966:Substance-Related Disorders D014481:United States D055815:Young Adult
Latent structure Non-medical prescription drug use Prescription drug use disorders NESARC