Cocaine Use and Psychopathology: Associations Among Young Adults

Abstract

Cocaine use has been associated with psychopathology in clinic and treatment samples and among chronic, excessive users. These relationships have been tested rarely in general epidemiological samples. This study examines the association between cocaine involvement and numerous measures of psychopathology in a general community sample of 739 young adults. There were no sex differences in level of cocaine involvement, nor on associations between cocaine use and psychopathology. There were several small relationships between cocaine use and several indicators of psychopathology (i.e., increased sleep disturbance, decreased panic and phobia symptoms, a lack of purpose in life, increased psychotic proneness). It appears that the severe psychopathology associated with cocaine use often cited in the literature is the result of using clinic or treatment samples or chronic abusers, and that such strong associations are not apparent in the general population of young adults with relatively brief cocaine use careers.