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Multiple Substance Use by Alcoholics
Author(s) -
Sokolow Lloyd,
Welte John,
Hynes Gerard,
Lyons Joseph
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
british journal of addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0952-0481
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1981.tb00219.x
Subject(s) - drug , rehabilitation , dysfunctional family , drug treatment , psychiatry , alcohol , medicine , substance use , substance abuse , psychology , physical therapy , biochemistry , chemistry
Summary 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. Drug use by alcoholics was shown to be related to a number of dysfunctional behaviours indicating a need for improved assessment and treatment of substance users in alcoholism rehabilitation programmes.