Desisting from Prescription Drug Abuse: An Application of Growth Models to Rx Opioid Users

Author(s)

Whitney D. Gunter, Western Michigan UniversityFollow
Steven P. Kurtz, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Nicholas W. Bakken, University of Wisconsin-La CrosseFollow
Daniel J. O'Connell, University of DelawareFollow

ORCID ID

0000-0003-4295-0285, 0000-0001-7989-5166

ResearcherID

H-3010-2014

Publication Title

Journal of Drug Issues

ISSN

1945-1369

Publication Date

1-2012

Abstract

Modern desistance research has examined many facets of desistance, in terms of theoretical predictors of desistance and recidivism, and in terms of differing types of offending. Though predicting desistance from illegal drug use is among these topics, no research to date has examined the predictors of desisting from prescription opioid abuse. This study uses longitudinal data from 318 prescription opioid users to analyze the effects of various predictors of desistance on declining nonmedical prescription opioid use, with an emphasis on gender differences among participants. Results indicate that theoretical and demographic characteristics correspond with differing rates of decline and further vary by gender.

DOI

10.1177/0022042612436651

Volume

42

Issue

1

First Page

82

Last Page

97

NSUWorks Citation

Gunter, W. D., Kurtz, S. P., Bakken, N. W., & O'Connell, D. J. (2012). Desisting from Prescription Drug Abuse: An Application of Growth Models to Rx Opioid Users. Journal of Drug Issues, 42 (1), 82-97. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022042612436651