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Introduction <p>Mental health, as an integral component of overall health, is consistently associated with illicit drug use, which increases the risk of both non-communicable and communicable diseases. This association has detrimental effects on public health, particularly among the underserved population.</p> Aim <p>The objective of this study was to investigate mental health correlates of illicit drug use in adults aged 20–69 years residing in the Yazd Greater Area.</p> Materials and methods <p>This cross-sectional study used baseline data from the Yazd Greater Area residents aged 20 to 69. Mental health was assessed using the validated Persian Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Substance use was self-reported, including type, frequency, and the route of administration. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine predictors of illicit drug use, reporting Adjust Odds Ratios (AORs) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs).</p> Results <p>Female participants had significantly lower odds of illicit drug use than men (AOR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.31–0.42), while high school education (AOR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.16–1.82) was significantly associated with higher odds of illicit drug use. Compared to the 20–29 age group, the odds of illicit drug use decreased progressively with age: 30–39 years (AOR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.46–0.66), 40–49 years (AOR = 0.39, 95% CI 0.32–0.47), 50–59 years (AOR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.13–0.22), and 60–69 years (AOR = 0.16, 95% CI 0.12–0.22). Each unit increase in depression (AOR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.02–1.07) and stress score (AOR = 1.03, 95%CI 1.00-1.05) were also significantly associated with increased odds of illicit drug use.</p> Conclusion <p>This study highlights that mental health is a strong associated factors of drug abuse even after adjustment for major confounders, including age, gender, and education. This is a bidirectional association, as a patient with mental disorders is likely to engage in substance abuse, while substance abuse is a cause of the onset and exacerbation of mental health disorders, particularly depression. Our key findings show that this relationship is strengthened in male addicts with lower age and education levels.</p>

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Association of depression anxiety and stress with illicit drug use among adults aged 20 to 69 years in the Yazd Health Study

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月23日

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  • Marzieh Mirzajani,
  • Behnam Bagheri Fahraji,
  • Masoumeh Mazidi,
  • Shiva Hojati,
  • Masoud Mirzaei

摘要

Introduction

Mental health, as an integral component of overall health, is consistently associated with illicit drug use, which increases the risk of both non-communicable and communicable diseases. This association has detrimental effects on public health, particularly among the underserved population.

Aim

The objective of this study was to investigate mental health correlates of illicit drug use in adults aged 20–69 years residing in the Yazd Greater Area.

Materials and methods

This cross-sectional study used baseline data from the Yazd Greater Area residents aged 20 to 69. Mental health was assessed using the validated Persian Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Substance use was self-reported, including type, frequency, and the route of administration. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine predictors of illicit drug use, reporting Adjust Odds Ratios (AORs) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs).

Results

Female participants had significantly lower odds of illicit drug use than men (AOR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.31–0.42), while high school education (AOR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.16–1.82) was significantly associated with higher odds of illicit drug use. Compared to the 20–29 age group, the odds of illicit drug use decreased progressively with age: 30–39 years (AOR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.46–0.66), 40–49 years (AOR = 0.39, 95% CI 0.32–0.47), 50–59 years (AOR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.13–0.22), and 60–69 years (AOR = 0.16, 95% CI 0.12–0.22). Each unit increase in depression (AOR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.02–1.07) and stress score (AOR = 1.03, 95%CI 1.00-1.05) were also significantly associated with increased odds of illicit drug use.

Conclusion

This study highlights that mental health is a strong associated factors of drug abuse even after adjustment for major confounders, including age, gender, and education. This is a bidirectional association, as a patient with mental disorders is likely to engage in substance abuse, while substance abuse is a cause of the onset and exacerbation of mental health disorders, particularly depression. Our key findings show that this relationship is strengthened in male addicts with lower age and education levels.