PATTERNS OF COCAINE USE AMONG INDIVIDUALS IN SUBSTANCE-ABUSE TREATMENT

Recognition of the heterogeneity among substance abusers has led to in creased attention to the issue of client-treatment matching. One appro ach involves identifying different patterns of use within samples of s ubstance abusers. The present preliminary report employed a cluster an alysis of various aspects of cocaine use to examine subgroups of cocai ne users within a sample of individuals in treatment for substance abu se. Three clusters emerged, differentiated primarily by quantity/frequ ency of use and route of administration. The resulting subgroups were compared on measures of external validity. Results suggest that subgro ups of cocaine use patterns do exist within a sample of substance abus ers. In addition, these subgroups differ in age of cocaine use onset a nd the severity of negative consequences. Future research is needed to establish the clinical utility of these clusters.