Polydrug Use in an Inpatient Treatment Sample of Problem Drinkers (original) (raw)
Related papers
Polydrug Use in Adolescent Drinkers with and without DSM-IV Alcohol Abuse and Dependence
Alcoholism-clinical and Experimental Research, 1996
Alcohol and other substance use disorders are highly comorbid, but little is known about patterns of polydrug use in adolescents with different levels of alcohol involvement. This research examined patterns and correlates of polydrug use in 176 adolescent drinkers with DSM-IV alcohol dependence (n = 61), alcohol abuse (n = 57), and no alcohol diagnosis (n = 58). Alcohol and other Substance Use Disorders were assessed using a modified version of the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM. Lifetime histories of alcohol use and other drug use were assessed using a structured interview. Subjects also completed a questionnaire measure of the frequency of use of specific alcohol-drug combinations. The total number of illicit drugs ever used was greater in the alcohol dependence (mean = 3.8, SD = 2.1) and abuse groups (mean = 3.0, SD = 2.1), compared with the no-alcohol diagnosis group (mean = 1.9, SD = 1.3). Consistent with previous findings, there was a consistent pattern in the age of onset of psychoactive substance use: alcohol, followed by marijuana, followed by other drugs. The recent use of alcohol and other drugs in combination was reported by a greater percentage of subjects in the alcohol dependence (69%) and abuse groups (72%), compared with drinkers without an alcohol diagnosis (45%). The most common alcohol-drug combination was alcohol with marijuana (58% of the total sample), followed by alcohol-hallucinogens (16%). The frequency and extent of polydrug use was associated with being older and having higher levels of behavioral undercontrol and negative emotionality. Adolescent polydrug use, particularly the use of alcohol and other drugs in combination, is an important area for research, treatment, and prevention.
Polysubstance Use Among Alcoholics
Journal of Addictive Diseases, 2001
Contemporary alcoholics often use multiple substances, but there is little systematic research on this. This study examines the drug use comorbidity of alcoholics (DSM diagnosis, frequency and quantity of drug use); the relationship between drinking and drug use; the relative severity of alcohol-and drug-related problems; and the validity of reports of illicit drug use. Data on substance use were collected from 248 treatment-seeking alcoholics using an expanded Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB) interview. Self-reports of substance use were validated with data from biological specimens (urine and hair). Lifetime diagnosis of joint alcohol and drug dependence/abuse was 64%. Two-thirds (68%) reported using drugs in the past 90 days: 33% powder cocaine; 29% crack cocaine; 15% heroin, and 24% cannabis. The mean proportions of exposed days on which users reported consuming a substance were 57% (alcohol), 26% (powder cocaine), 46% (crack cocaine), 47% (heroin), and 29% (cannabis). Subjects reported consuming an average of 14 standard drinks on a drinking day and $67 worth of drugs on a using day. Drug users reported drinking less than nonusers on a drinking day. Frequency of drinking and drug use were positively correlated; almost all drug users reported simultaneous
Mono- versus polydrug abuse patterns among publicly funded clients
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 2007
To examine patterns of mono-versus polydrug abuse, data were obtained from intake records of 69,891 admissions to publicly funded treatment programs in Tennessee between 1998 and 2004. While descriptive statistics were employed to report frequency and patterns of mono-and polydrug abuse by demographic variables and by study years, bivariate logistic regression was applied to assess the probability of being a mono-or polydrug abuser for a number of demographic variables. The researchers found that during the study period 51.3% of admissions reported monodrug abuse and 48.7% reported polydrug abuse. Alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana were the most commonly abused substances, both alone and in combination. Odds ratio favored polydrug abuse for all but one drug category-other drugs. Gender did not affect drug abuse patterns; however, admissions for African Americans and those living in urban areas exhibited higher probabilities of polydrug abuse. Age group also appeared to affect drug abuse patterns, with higher odds of monodrug abuse among minors and adults over 45 years old. The discernable prevalence of polydrug abuse suggests a need for developing effective prevention strategies and treatment plans specific to polydrug abuse.
Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education, 1998
This study focuses on polydrug use among American college students. Based on a secondary analysis of data originally collected in 1993 from a large representative sample of 4-year college students, (N = 17,592), this analysis compares four subgroups of young adult drug users: exclusive binge drinkers, users of illicit drugs, those with both heavy use of alcohol and illegal drugs (polydrug users), and low-frequency alcohol users. Consistent with the results from clinical studies, collegiate polydrug users were far more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors--getting into fights, engaging in unprotected sex acts, having more DWI experiences and displaying greater drug use--than any of the other subgroups of respondents. This study also demonstrated the value of therapeutic availability to effectively reduce collegiate substance misuse. For most respondents heavy alcohol use in high school was found as the closest correlate to later collegiate polydrug use. Yet, among the small subset of respondents reporting heavy high school alcohol use and who had experienced treatment for drug problems, their collegiate drug use patterns were far more moderate, in comparison to their non-treated peers. These findings demonstrate the allimportant need to offer a full complement of drug rehabilitation and education services to secondary school populations.
Multiple Substance Use by Alcoholics
Addiction, 1981
Use of drugs by 1,340 alcoholic clients of 17 New York alcoholism rehabilitation units was assessed for pre-treatment and three and eight month post-treatment periods. Drug use was reported by 44% of the clients before treatment and about 30% after treatment. Clients who were drinking greater amounts of ethanol before treatment tended to be drug users after treatment. Only a slight substitution of drug use for alcohol use was found from before to after treatment. Alcoholic substance users were more likely to be behaviourally and physiologically impaired than were alcohol users. Greater impairment for alcoholic and substance users was found both before and after treatment. Special categories of pre-treatment drug use showed differential predictive relationship with alcohol use after treatment.
Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 2018
Aims: Combined use of alcohol with drugs elevates risk for problems including injury and driving while intoxicated. We assessed contributions of heavy drinking (5+ drinks for men/4+ for women), drug use (cannabis and other drugs) and simultaneous co-use to DSM-5 alcohol use disorder (AUD) and drug abuse (DA). We expected co-use to increase risk for AUD and DA. Methods: Using population-weighted data from adults in the 2014–2015 National Alcohol Survey who had never been to treatment ( N = 3386 drinkers, 50% male, 13% Hispanic, 11% Black, mean age 45 years; N = 439 drug users, 56% male, 20% Hispanic, 15% Black, mean age 36), we tested hypotheses using logistic regression adjusting for demographics, family history of alcohol problems and impulsivity. Results: Ten percent of drinkers and 26% of drug users met criteria for mild AUD; <1% of drinkers and 4% of drug users met criteria for DA. Heavy drinking significantly increased risk for AUD, as did monthly or weekly use of cannabis. ...
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2014
This study investigated the difference between concurrent and simultaneous use of alcohol and non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) in relation to mental, social, and health issues. The 544 study participants of the Swiss ongoing Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C-SURF) had a combined use of alcohol with NMUPD during the previous 12 months. Alcohol-related problems (i.e., dependence and consequences), as well as mental, social, and health concerns (i.e., depression, general mental/physical health, and social/health consequences), were assessed. The simultaneous use of alcohol and NMUPD proved to be a greater risk factor for mental, social, and health issues than concurrent use. This study adds essential information regarding simultaneous polydrug use, which results in distinct effects compared to concurrent use, including important social, psychosocial, and health-related consequences.
Joint Use of Drugs and Alcohol
European Addiction Research, 2009
To determine the relationships between the different patterns of drinking and drug use in the general population. The data from three nationwide surveys conducted in Finland in 1998, 2002 and 2004 were pooled into one dataset (n = 7,227). Population aged 15-69. Use of illicit drugs was analyzed in relation to annual alcohol consumption, heavy episodic drinking, frequenting of pubs and restaurants, and the misuse of prescribed drugs. Respondents were divided into five different groups according to their involvement in drug cultures, i.e. 'no contact with drug cultures', 'some contact with drug cultures', 'drug experimenters and ex-users', 'cannabis users' and 'multidrug users'. The prevalence of drug use increased along with the annual alcohol consumption, and polysubstance use was most prevalent among heavy drinkers. Heavy episodic drinking and frequenting of pubs and restaurants increased in parallel with involvement in drug cultures. Misuse of prescribed drugs was most prevalent among multidrug users. Polysubstance use patterns reveal an interlacing of alcohol and drug cultures. However, standard measures employed in alcohol and drug research are insufficient to capture the phenomenon in detail, and more research and the development of new approaches are needed.