Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...

Incidence Rates
Data from the survey also provided estimates <strong>of</strong> incidence <strong>of</strong> inhalant use
among Colombians. The survey results estimated the annual rate to be 65
per 10,000 person-years.
Among those between the ages <strong>of</strong> 12 and 59 years, an annual estimate is
that about 144,000 people are initiated into inhalant use in Colombia.
The survey results show that age was the variable most associated with
the incidence rate (record the X 2 value p < 0.0000001) (table 5). The age
group with the highest incidence rate was the 12-17 cohort, followed by
the 18-24 age group and the 25-44 age group. No data were available for
the 45-59 age group.
TABLE 5. Use <strong>of</strong> inhalants, Colombia, 1992: Estimated incidence rate
per 10, 000 person-years.
Age
Incidence Odds
rate + ratio
12-17 184 5.0**
18-24 59 1.6*
25-44 37 1 .0*
KEY: + = chi 2 <strong>of</strong> tendency, p < 0.000000l; * = significant difference.
Marital status also was found to be associated with initiation <strong>of</strong> inhalant
use during the past year. Those who were married were found to have
the lowest probability <strong>of</strong> becoming inhalant users. Once adjusted for age,
the results suggest that individuals living in common-law marriages had
the highest risk <strong>of</strong> using inhalants (almost nine times that <strong>of</strong> married
couples). Singles have a risk close to five times that <strong>of</strong> people in
common-law marriages. No significant differences were found to exist
between married individuals and those who were separated or divorced.
However, significant differences were found between those living
together without formal marriage and those separated or divorced
(table 6).
The analyses <strong>of</strong> data by gender showed that no significant differences
were found between males and females. Nevertheless, the results did
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