A Study on the Relationship between Loneliness and Drug Use among People Receiving Methadone Maintenance Treatment in Wuhan

CHEN Xun; HU Rong; HU Xuejiao; ZHANG Min; LIU Cong

doi:10.3639/j.issn.2095-3097.2025.08.031

Abstract：Objective To study and analyze the correlation between loneliness and drug use among methadone maintenance treatment patients,and to provide a scientific basis for drug rehabilitation treatment.Methods From April to May,2024 a questionnaire survey was conducted among 993 community opioid addicts from 6 methadone maintenance treatment institutions in Wuhan using the random cluster sampling method.The t-test and chi-square test were performed using R version 4.4.1.The relationship between loneliness and drug use behavior in the past month was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression.The dose-response relationship was fitted by restricted cubic spline logistic regression.Results Among the 993 methadone maintenance treatment patients,15.31%(152 individuals)had used drugs in the past month.The proportions of UCLA Loneliness Scale scores<44 and≥44 were 39.58%(393 individuals)and 60.42%(600 individuals),respectively.The results of the multivariate logistic regression model analysis showed that after adjusting for demographic factors,history of compulsory detoxification,and HIV knowledge awareness,compared with patients having UCLA Loneliness Scale scores<44,patients with high loneliness scores(≥44)had lower odds of drug use in the past month(OR=0.38,95%CI:0.25-0.57).The restricted cubic spline model indicated a non-linear relationship between UCLA Loneliness Scale scores and the risk of drug use.In the range of moderate loneliness scores(47-60),the OR for drug use risk was<1.Conclusion There is a non-linear dose-response relationship between lonliness and drug use.Within a certain range,patients on methadone maintenance treatment with high levels of loneliness have a significantly lower risk of recent drug use.