Days of heroin use predict poor self-reported health in hospitalized heroin users

•We examined self-reported health status of hospitalized heroin users.•Nearly half (47%) reported good or better health.•Days of heroin use in the past month were associated with poorer reported health.

This study examined associations between substance use behaviors and self-reported health among hospitalized heroin users. Of the 112 participants, 53 (47%) reported good or better health. In multivariable logistic regression models, each day of heroin use in the last month was associated with an 8% lower odds of reporting health as good or better (OR = .92; 95% CI 0.87, 0.97, p < .05). Cocaine, cannabis, cigarettes, alcohol use, unintentional overdose, nor injection drug use was associated with health status.