NCJ Number
182183
Journal
American Journal of Epidemiology Volume: 142 Issue: 2 Dated: 1995 Pages: 183-190
Date Published
1995
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article studies whether different psychosocial work environments might signal increased risk of drug dependence syndromes.
Abstract
The article studied the relation between the psychosocial work environment and the risk of drug dependence syndromes as the result of nonmedical use of cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines and other drugs subject to international regulations. As distinct from occupational studies of ecologic correlations, the article includes an assessment of individuals and their jobs in terms of a Demand/Control model found useful in prior work on cardiovascular disease, distress, smoking and other health outcomes. When the data were adjusted for baseline sociodemographic risk factors, history of alcoholism and selected work conditions, increased risk of drug abuse/dependence was observed in subjects characterized by high levels of physical demands and low levels of skill discretion and in subjects characterized by high levels of physical demands and decision authority. Findings underscore the importance of previously observed associations between psychosocial work environments and mental health and extend the range of findings to the drug dependence syndromes. Notes, tables, references