SELF-REPORTED ALCOHOL-USE PATTERNS IN A SAMPLE OF MALE AND FEMALE HEAVY SMOKERS

In an attempt to characterize differences among male and female smoker s based on past and current alcohol use, we studied patterns of drinki ng, smoking, caffeine intake, and depression as a function of lifetime history of alcohol dependence and current drinking status in a commun ity sample of current smokers. Subjects were 65 male and 152 female mo derate-to-heavy smokers. The CAGE was used to screen for lifetime hist ory of alcohol dependence; current drinking status was classified usin g self-reported number of alcoholic drinks/week. No significant differ ences were detected for smoking rate, scores on the Fagerstrom Test fo r Nicotine Dependence or either coffee or total caffeine intake. Drink ers with a history of alcohol dependence drank significantly more per week than drinkers with no history, with significant gender difference s and interaction effects emerging as well; the phenomenon was particu larly pronounced in men. Drinkers of both genders with a history of al cohol dependence scored significantly higher on the Center for Epidemi ological Studies-Depression scale, with means exceeding the cutoff of 16 associated with clinical depression. Since comorbidity of depressio n and alcohol dependence is known to exert a detrimental effect on abi lity to stop smoking, the number of individuals at risk for smoking ce ssation treatment failure may be much larger than might be inferred fr om data based on psychiatric assessments or collected in inpatient set tings. Routine screening for depressive symptomatology combined with h eavy alcohol use in primary care settings may therefore be helpful in identifying smokers in need of more intensive stop-smoking interventio ns.