Drinking habits in illicit drug abuse/dependence subjects

Several studies have extensively documented polydrug use, focusing attention on the association between alcohol and illicit drugs in alcoholic patients. At present there are few studies on drinking habits in non-alcoholic outpatients following an addiction treatment programme (ATP) for illicit drug abuse or dependence. The aim of this study was to collect information about drinking habits both before and 30 days after the admission to the ATP for illicit drug misuse. A total of 327 subjects (249 males [76, 1%]) with an average age of 33.16 ± 7.53 (range = 17-74) with an illicit drugs addiction diagnosis according to DSM-IV criteria were enrolled in the study. All subjects followed an ATP for illicit drugs consisting of clinic counseling, methadone maintenance treatment, individual and family psychotherapy, and work rehabilitation. At the end of the first 30 days of ATP a questionnaire was used to record drinking habits (g/day, and modality of alcohol intake). On the basis of the data obtained from the questionnaire, all subjects were divided into abstinent and current drinkers (CD). Subsequently CD were divided in two groups: moderate and at risk drinkers. Among the total sample, a statistically significant reduction in daily alcohol intake between before and 30 days after the ATP (p<0.001) was detected. The distribution of subjects among abstinent and CD changed significantly (p<0.05); in particular, an increase in the number of moderate drinkers in association with a reduction in the number of at risk drinkers was detected. Moreover, among subjects who continued to drink alcohol 30 days after the admission to the ATP, a statistically significant increase in those drinking within the family (p<0.05) and during meals (p<0.001), and a statistically significant reduction in those drinking in the morning (p<0.05) and between meals (p<0.05) were found. Furthermore, after 30 days of the ATP, we observed that almost 28% of the total subjects began to drink alcohol as heavy drinkers. Thus, it would be useful to integrate the ATP for illicit drug misuse with a more specific message of primary prevention about alcohol related problems (ARP) to avoid the shift from illicit drug misuse towards alcohol abuse or the utilization of alcohol in combination with illicit drugs.