CORRELATES OF HEAVY DRINKING AND ALCOHOL-RELATED PROBLEMS AMONG MEN AND WOMEN IN DRUG-TREATMENT PROGRAMS

A series of analyses were conducted to explore if there were significa nt differences in heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems in clien ts admitted to different types of drug treatment programs and whether such differences, if found, could be attributed to variation in social characteristics, drug use behavior, drinking norms, drinking contexts , or in reasons for combining alcohol and drug use. Men and women (N = 246) in four types of publicly funded treatment programs were intervi ewed at intake regarding drinking and drug use patterns and related pr oblems. The results of the study showed significant differences in dri nking behavior and alcohol-related problems of clients in different tr eatment modalities. Men in a county jail substance abuse program exhib ited the highest frequency of heavy drinking and highest rates of alco hol problems; clients of methadone programs reported the lowest rates and those in therapeutic communities described intermediate rates. A s eries of regression analyses showed that the only significant predicto rs of the frequency of heavier drinking and drunkenness were drinking context and reasons for combining alcohol and drug use. In addition, a ge (youthfulness) was associated with the frequency of getting drunk. The most powerful predictors of alcohol-related problems were the freq uency of getting drunk and drinking to enhance the effects of other dr ugs. Heavy drinking and drinking to prevent getting sick from drugs we re also significantly associated with drinking problems. The frequency of drug use (by specific type) and most social characteristics showed no direct association with drinking patterns or problems.