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American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 132, No. 1: 47-57
Copyright © 1990 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health

research-article

ILLICIT DRUG USE AND THE RISK OF NEW-ONSET SEIZURES

STEPHEN K. C. NG1,2,, JOHN C. M. BRUST3,4, W. ALLEN HAUSER1,4 and MERVYN SUSSER1,2

1G. H. Sergievsky Center, Faculty of Medicine, Columbia University New York, NY
2Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Columbia University New York, NY
33 Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Columbia University New York, NY
4Department of Neurology, Harlem Hospital Center New York, NY

Reprint requests to Dr. Stephen K. C. Ng, G. H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, 630 West 168th St., New York, NY 10032

The authors studied the use of heroin, marijuana, and cocaine before the onset of a first seizure in 308 patients with seizures and 294 controls at Harlem Hospital Center, New York City, between 1981 and 1984. Heroin use, both past and present, appeared to be a risk factor for all first seizures (adjusted odds ratio=2.80, 95% confidence interval (Cl) 1.53–5.74). For unprovoked seizures, the adjusted odds ratio was 2.58 (95% Cl 1.36–4.90) for ever heroin use and 4.70 (95% Cl 0.86–25.78) for heroin use within 24 hours of hospitalization. For provoked seizures, respective adjusted odds ratios were 3.65 (95% Cl 1.54–8.65) and 27.74 (95% Cl 3.57–215.52). Marijuana use appeared to be a protective factor against first seizures in men. For men with unprovoked seizures, the adjusted odds ratio was 0.42 (95% Cl 0.22–0.82) for ever marijuana use and 0.36 (95% Cl 0.18–0.74) for marijuana use within 90 days of hospitalization. For men with provoked seizures, respective adjusted odds ratios were 1.03 (95% Cl 0.36–2.89) and 0.18 (95% Cl 0.04–0.84). Cocaine use, while common among study subjects, was not shown to be a significant risk factor either for all first seizures or for subgroups of seizures, regardless of the time of last use. The authors conclude that heroin use is a risk factor and marijuana use a protective factor for new-onset seizures.

cannabis; cocaine; diacetylmorphine; epilepsy; seizures; substance abuse


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