Factors associated with future illicit drug recidivating for young adult students who misuse drugs: A population-based cohort study from Taiwan

Objectives: Although data have discovered risk factors of illicit drug use, there was still rare study discussing this issue based on the following criminal record. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with the following illicit drug criminal record in young adult drug misuse student. Methods: This was a population-based cohort study. The index date was set as the first register date of illicit drug use from Ministry of Education. Included Students aged 18- 24 years old with a positive test result of illicit drugs between January 1,2013 and December 31, 2013. Illicit drug criminal record after index date from National Police Agency criminal system served as outcome. Cox regression model used to assess the association between factors and illicit drug criminal record by hazard-ratio. Subjects were follow-up until relapse of drug misuse, death, migration or June 30. 2015. Results: Of the 860 illicit drug use students, 61 (7.09%) with the following drug criminal record of schedule I and 11 drugs. There were 214 (24.88%) with the following drug criminal record of schedule III and IV drugs. Factors associated with schedule I and II drugs were main caregiver and prior drug misuse criminal record. Factors associated with schedule III and IV drugs were main caregiver, prior withdraw from school record, learning problem and prior drug misuse criminal record. Conclusions: Drug misuse recidivating for young adult students associated with prior drug misuse criminal record, non-parent caregiver, learning problem and prior withdraw from school record.