PATTERNS OF POLYDRUG USE IN ADOLESCENT ALCOHOL ABUSERS

It is clear that alcohol abuse by adolescents rarely exists today with out the concurrent use of other drugs. Little is known, however, about the extent and patterns of polydrug use in clinical samples of adoles cent alcohol abusers. The present study examined patterns and correlat es of polydrug use in 72 adolescents admitted to an inpatient treatmen t unit with a diagnosis of alcohol abuse. The degree of lifetime invol vement with 10 different drug classes was assessed in a clinical inter view. Ninety-six percent of subjects reported use of drugs other than alcohol, and there were substantial rates of use for most drug classes . Males and females did not differ in the percentage of subjects who u sed different drug classes or in severity of involvement ratings for t hese drug classes. The data suggest a consistent ordering of drug clas ses, such that the use of drug classes later in this order was rare in the absence of the use of drug classes earlier in the order. The data suggest that polydrug use characterizes the large majority of adolesc ent alcohol abusers, and that such use is often quite extensive. Impli cations for assessment and treatment are discussed.