Fischer JA, Conrad S, Clavarino AM, Kemp R, Najman JM. Quality of life of people who inject drugs: characteristics and comparisons with other population samples.
Qual Life Res 2013;
22:2113-21. [PMID:
23341173 DOI:
10.1007/s11136-013-0350-8]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
To assess the quality of life (QOL) of persons who inject drugs.
METHODS
Some 483 current injecting drug users visiting a large NSP over a 2-week period in October 2009 were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. QOL was measured using the WHOQOL-BREF. Data were collected on age, gender, injecting patterns, current drug treatment status and hepatitis C status. Participant QOL profiles were compared to published domain scores for a range of other population groups.
RESULTS
People who inject drugs (PWID) experience a very poor QOL irrespective of socio-demographic characteristics, injecting patterns, hepatitis C sero-status and drug treatment status. Sample participants (PWID) experience a QOL below that experienced by many population groups in the community affected by disabling chronic illnesses.
CONCLUSIONS
Injecting drug use is associated with a poor QOL. Some PWID may be self-medicating for chronic non-malignant pain, and it is likely that these people had a low QOL prior to the decision to inject. Despite this caveat, it remains likely that injecting drug use does little to enhance the QOL of the user.
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