Patterns of illegal drug use among an adult alcohol dependent population: Results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health

Abstract

The use of illegal drugs is common in alcohol dependence and significant psychological and social consequences are associated with the concurrent use of alcohol and illegal drugs. However, little literature has examined the patterns of concurrent drug use in alcohol dependent individuals. A latent class analysis (LCA) was used to determine whether patterns of past year illegal drug use existed in a national sample of 6,059 alcohol dependent respondents of the combined 2005, 2006 and 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Multinomial logistic regression was then used to determine whether demographic variables, mental health disturbance and social consequences were predictive of drug use classes. Results of the LCA demonstrated a five class solution with optimal fit deduced by Bayesian Information Criterion minima. The five classes included: a close to zero probability of illegal drug use (class 1: 65%), medium marijuana, medium sedatives/tranquilizers and high analgesics (class 2: 7%), high marijuana, medium cocaine use (class 3: 21%), high probabilities of marijuana, cocaine, sedatives and analgesic use (class 4: 6%) and a high concurrent drug use except other hallucinogens (class 5: 1%). Regression results suggest that younger age, comorbidity, engaging in deviant behaviors, sexually transmitted infection and incarceration are associated with concurrent illegal drug use in alcohol dependent individuals. Findings advocate that more intense psychiatric and drug dependence treatment resources may be needed for concurrent drug using alcohol dependent populations and provide evidence for targeted prevention and treatment interventions.

Course of Alcohol Dependence Among Vietnam Combat Veterans and Nonveteran Controls

“…In contrast with the VETR, the VES was comprised of nontwins and oversampled for veterans who tested positive for drug use at discharge from Vietnam. Thus, the sample members were likely to exhibit greater substance abuse or dependence severity and comorbidity than participants from the VETR (Hedden et al, 2010). Replicating our fi ndings based on a sample with different characteristics than the VETR is of considerable importance to determining the generalizability of the patterns we identifi ed.…”

Patterns of concurrent substance use among nonmedical ADHD stimulant users: Results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health

“…A previous NSDUH report showed college students who used Adderall® nonmedically were 3 times more likely to drink heavily than nonusers (SAMHSA, 2009a). Considering a great deal of adverse physical and social consequences of alcohol use (Brown et al, 2000; Chesson et al, 2000; Hedden et al, 2010), alcohol use screen among this subgroup should be considered.…”

“…Comorbid substance use and psychiatric disorders confer an additional risk for poorer treatment response or poorer outcomes among substance abusing patients (Hedden et al, 2010; Strain, 2002), indicating that need for an integrated services which address both physical and psychological needs of this population.…”

Consequences of concurrent and simultaneous amphetamine-type stimulant and alcohol use among young adults: hazardous drinking, antisocial behaviour, and contact with police

“…Substances may be combined for various reasons, including to produce pleasurable effects, to extend, enhance, or intensify effects, and to mitigate negative effects (Hunt et al, 2009 Chalmers, et al, 2014). While a growing body of research suggests alcohol and drug combinations may result in greater harms than their separate use (Fisk et al, 2011;Hedden et al, 2010;Midanik et al, 2007), little is known about potential consequences of simultaneous ATS and alcohol use (Kirkpatrick, Gunderson, Levin, et al, 2012).…”

“…Heavier patterns of alcohol consumption have been observed among young adult ATS users compared to non-users (Degenhardt et al, 2004;Furr, Delva, & Anthony, 2000). This combined use of alcohol and stimulants is an emerging concern, as a growing body of research suggests that combined use may result in greater harms than the separate use of these substances (Fisk et al, 2011;Hedden et al, 2010). However, factors that may lead to hazardous alcohol consumption among ATS users have not been systematically examined (Kinner et al, 2012).…”