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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 9/2009

01-09-2009 | ORIGINAL PAPER

Prevalence and correlates of illicit and non-medical use of psychotropic drugs in Japan

Findings from the World Mental Health Japan Survey 2002–2004

Authors: Mayumi Tominaga, MS, Norito Kawakami, MD, Yutaka Ono, MD, Yoshibumi Nakane, MD, Yoshikazu Nakamura, MD, MPH, FFPH, Hisateru Tachimori, PhD, Noboru Iwata, PhD, Hidenori Uda, MD, Hideyuki Nakane, MD, Makoto Watanabe, MD, PhD, Yoichi Naganuma, PSW, PhD, Toshiaki A. Furukawa, MD, Yukihiro Hata, MD, Masayo Kobayashi, MD, Yuko Miyake, PhD, Tadashi Takeshima, MD, Takehiko Kikkawa, MD

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 9/2009

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Abstract

Purpose

To describe the prevalence of illicit and non-medical use of drugs, the age of first use, and their correlates in the general population of Japan, based on data collected between 2002 and 2004 as part of the World Mental Health (WMH) surveys.

Methods

Participants included were a subsample (n = 887) of the total 2,436 Japanese-speaking respondents aged ≥20 years, randomly sampled from residents in seven cities/municipalities in Japan. Face-to-face household surveys were conducted using the Japanese version of the fully structured WHO WMH Survey Initiative version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview.

Results

Lifetime prevalence of marijuana and cocaine use, non-medical use of prescribed drugs such as tranquilizers, stimulants and analgesics, and use of other substances was 1.5, 0.3, 6.4 and 2.4%, respectively. Lifetime use of marijuana was significantly greater among men. Prescription drug abuse/misuse was significantly more common among the middle-aged (35–49 years) group and those who were married/cohabitating. The 12-month prevalence of marijuana and non-medical use was 0.3 and 1.9%, respectively. Age of first use was likely to be early adulthood. Non-medical use was significantly related to mood disorder, anxiety disorder, intermittent explosive disorder and alcohol abuse/dependence.

Conclusions

The present study confirmed lower prevalence of drug use in Japan than in other countries, such as the United States. However, the non-medical use of psychotropic drugs seems more common in Japan.
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Metadata
Title
Prevalence and correlates of illicit and non-medical use of psychotropic drugs in Japan
Findings from the World Mental Health Japan Survey 2002–2004
Authors
Mayumi Tominaga, MS
Norito Kawakami, MD
Yutaka Ono, MD
Yoshibumi Nakane, MD
Yoshikazu Nakamura, MD, MPH, FFPH
Hisateru Tachimori, PhD
Noboru Iwata, PhD
Hidenori Uda, MD
Hideyuki Nakane, MD
Makoto Watanabe, MD, PhD
Yoichi Naganuma, PSW, PhD
Toshiaki A. Furukawa, MD
Yukihiro Hata, MD
Masayo Kobayashi, MD
Yuko Miyake, PhD
Tadashi Takeshima, MD
Takehiko Kikkawa, MD
Publication date
01-09-2009
Publisher
Steinkopff-Verlag
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 9/2009
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-009-0499-1

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