Pattern of cocaine consumption in a sample of italian alcoholics

Summary: Concurrent cocaine and alcohol abuse is a relevant phenomenon. Despite recent findings about other polydrug abuse profiles, no pyschiatric characterization of alcohol-cocaine consumption has been made. The study included 499 subjects. We compared the features of alcoholics with and without a history of cocaine consumption to investigate into the relationship between different grades of engagement into cocaine use and clinical variables, including psychiatric DSM-IV diagnosis. Our results could indicate an association between lifetime alcohol-cocaine polydrug use and bipolar disorder. Introduction: Concurrent cocaine and alcohol abuse is a relevant phenomenon. Despite recent findings about other polydrug abuse profiles, no psychiatric characterization of alcohol-cocaine consumption has been made. Studies on other patterns of polydrug abuse suggested a link with the spectrum of bipolar disorders. Materials and methods: The study included 499 subjects, who had been referred for treatment to the Alcohol-Abuse Unit of Rome University ‘La Sapienza’, Italy. According to DSM-IV TR , 48 (9.7%) abusers and 448 (90.3%) alcohol-dependant We compared the features of alcoholics with and without a history of cocaine consumption in order to investigate into the relationship between different grades of engagement into cocaine use and clinical variables, including psychiatric DSM-IV diagnosis. Results: A history or currency of cocaine use (CU) characterized 158 subjects (31.7%). Mean age when starting regular cocaine use was 23.46±7.28, duration of recurrent exposure (to a variable extent and degree) was on average 11.66±9.8 years. Cocaine users (CU) were younger (39.67±8.9 vs. 46.56±10.4; P). Conclusion: Results indicate the association between lifetime alcohol-cocaine polydrug use and bipolar disorder, which may provide a useful perspective for treatment planning in this subgroup of subjects.