THE ROLE OF WEIGHT CONTROL AS A MOTIVATION FOR COCAINE ABUSE

Heavy use of cocaine and alcohol in female cocaine abusers with eating disorders has been reported, but the prevalence and motivation for co ncurrent substance use has not been well investigated. This study of 3 7 female and 40 male cocaine abusers demonstrated that almost half of the women used cocaine and/or alcohol as a weight control measure, and 13% of the males did the same. Thirteen (72%) of 18 females endorsing weight-related use of cocaine had a current diagnosis of an eating di sorder. Only two males (5%) had a past history of an eating disorder. Eleven (85%) of those women with a current eating disorder endorsed us ing alcohol as an appetite suppressant. These findings support the nee d to evaluate weight control motivation in cocaine users and to provid e specific treatment aimed at addressing the interaction between the e ating disorder and the substance abuse problem. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd.