U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Polysubstance Use Among Alcoholics

NCJ Number
192501
Journal
Journal of Addictive Diseases Volume: 20 Issue: 4 Dated: 2001 Pages: 53-69
Author(s)
Graham L. Staines; Stephen Magura; Jeffrey Foote; Alexander Deluca; Nicole Kosanke
Date Published
2001
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study examined polysubstance use among alcoholics.
Abstract
The study examined the drug use comorbidity of alcoholics (DSM diagnosis, frequency, 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 Time-line Follow-Back (TLFB) interview. Self-reports of substance use were validated with urine and hair samples. Lifetime diagnosis of joint alcohol and drug dependence/abuse was 64 percent. 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 drinking and drug use, and they rated drugs as the bigger problem. Considerable under-reporting of drug use occurred for the previous 3-4 days, but was more accurate for the previous month. Tables, notes, references