Abstract
We examine the association between recent crack smoking, gender, and self-reported respiratory illness among 360 drug-addicted jail detainees. A standardized questionnaire measured medical status and self-reported drug use. Logistic regression assessed the association of crack cocaine use (never, former, or recent use) with respiratory illness. After adjusting for demographics, other illnesses, other drug use, homelessness, and other characteristics, detainees who ceased smoking crack more than 1 year ago were less likely to report respiratory illness (adjusted odds ratio = .418). Women remained twice as likely as men to report respiratory illness after adjustment for crack use. We conclude that improvement in respiratory health status can be observed with cessation of crack cocaine use, even involuntarily, for a period as short as 1 year.
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