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Probabilities of PTSD and Related Substance Use Among Canadian Adults

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and probabilities of comorbidities between self-reported PTSD and smoking, alcohol binge drinking and substance use disorders (SUDs) from a national Canadian sample. Data were taken from the Statistics Canada Public Use Microdata File of the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey–Mental Health (n = 17,311). The prevalence of (a) smoking, (b) alcohol binge drinking and (c) SUDs was estimated among those with a PTSD diagnosis versus those without a PTSD diagnosis. After controlling for potential socioeconomic and mental health covariates, self-reported PTSD acted as a significant predictor for membership in the heaviest smoking, alcohol, and substance use categories. Individuals self-reporting a diagnosis of PTSD have a significantly higher likelihood of engaging in smoking and alcohol binge drinking, and are more likely to meet criteria for SUDs than individuals not reporting a PTSD diagnosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Student Wellness and Counseling Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland, A1C 5S7, Canada

    Ross D. Connolly

  2. Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, St. John, New Brunswick, E2L 4L5, Canada

    David Speed

  3. Faculty of Education, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John, Newfoundland, A1B 3X8, Canada

    Jacqueline Hesson

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  1. Ross D. Connolly
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  2. David Speed
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  3. Jacqueline Hesson
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Correspondence to Ross D. Connolly.

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Connolly, R.D., Speed, D. & Hesson, J. Probabilities of PTSD and Related Substance Use Among Canadian Adults. Int J Ment Health Addiction 19, 2178–2193 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00311-2

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