@article{ref1,
title="Physical health, illicit drug use, and demographic characteristics in rural stimulant users",
journal="Journal of rural health",
year="2007",
author="Garrity, Thomas F. and Leukefeld, Carl G. and Carlson, Robert G. and Falck, Russel S. and Wang, Jichuan and Booth, Brenda M.",
volume="23",
number="2",
pages="99-107",
abstract="CONTEXT: There is growing concern about illicit rural stimulant use, especially regarding methamphetamine use and its health consequences. PURPOSE: The present study describes associations between aspects of stimulant use and illness experience in rural areas, with additional focus on the role of demographic characteristics in these associations. METHODS: The research participants were 710 stimulant drug users who were recruited from rural areas of Arkansas, Kentucky, and Ohio using Heckathorn's respondent-driven sampling method. Health was measured by self-reports of perceived health and extent of current, recent, and lifelong health problems. Drug use was measured with self-reports of type and frequency of use. FINDINGS: Several associations were found between drug use and illness, controlling for demographics. Stimulant use pattern related significantly with the sum of health problems in the previous 6 months and the sum of lifetime illness diagnoses, after adjustment for demographic factors. Extent of illicit drug use in the past month and self-perceived drug and alcohol problems were associated with several measures of health. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of stimulant users, methamphetamine use was associated with fewer recent medical problems than crack cocaine, combined crack and powder cocaine use, and use of all 3 of these stimulants. These results, across the 3 sites, suggest that prevalent assumptions about the methamphetamine &quot;plague&quot; and its negative health consequences must be viewed cautiously and examined with additional research.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0890-765X",
doi="10.1111/j.1748-0361.2007.00076.x",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-0361.2007.00076.x"
}