Name of Project: A 12-Year Follow-up of a Cocaine-Dependent
Sample
Principal Investigator: Yih-Ing Hser, Ph. D.
Co-Principal Investigators: Elena Stark, M.D.,
Alfanso Parades, M.D., Richard Rawson, Ph.D., and M. Douglas Anglin,
Ph.D.
Funding Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
(NIDA)
Funding Period: September 2000-July 2004
Scope of Project: This study is a 12-year follow-up
of 321 cocaine-dependent men who were originally admitted in 1988-1989
to the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center. These
patients were interviewed at intake and in two follow-up interviews
conducted in 1990-1991 and 1991-1992 as part of a NIDA-funded
study. Their cocaine-use careers from onset of use to treatment
entry averaged 11.5 years. The natural history database established
by the previous interviews will be supplemented with data from
almost 12 years after treatment admission. The aims of the study
are: (1) to provide a detailed natural history description of
approximately 24-year-long cocaine-use careers of cocaine-dependent
men; (2) to identify factors that influence relapse and cessation
of use over the course of the cocaine use career; (3) to analyze
and describe morbidity and mortality among this sample; (4) to
evaluate the extent of criminal activity, identify specific criminal
career patterns in relation to cocaine use, and to assess patterns
of institutionalization and legal supervision over the cocaine
use career and their effects; (5) to analyze the history of treatment
intervention and assess the effects of specific and cumulative
treatment episodes on cocaine use. The study will inform policy
and strategies for treating cocaine use by improving the understanding
of long-term patterns and consequences of cocaine and other drug
use, utilization of drug treatment and other social interventions,
and the associated outcomes of such drug use and treatment.
For more information, contact Yih-Ing
Hser.
Last updated - 08/14/2003
Last reviewed - 08/13/2003