Citation

Garnier LM, Arria AM, Caldeira KM, Vincent KB, O'Grady KE, Wish ED. Am. J. Drug Alcohol Abuse 2009; 35(5): 334-338.

Affiliation

Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR), University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00952990903075059

PMID

20180661

PMCID

PMC2829719

Abstract

Background: Research has linked heavy alcohol use with nonmedical prescription analgesic use, but no studies have focused on concurrent use. Objectives: To understand the extent to which alcohol use and nonmedical prescription analgesic use co-occur among college students. Methods: The Timeline Followback method was used to split the sample (n = 1,118) into three groups based on their alcohol and nonmedical prescription analgesic use. Results: Of all nonmedical prescription analgesic users, 58% (n = 90) were concurrent users. Concurrent users consumed more drinks per drinking day (7.5) than non-concurrent (5.8) and alcohol-only users (5.2), and drank more often (74.4% of days in the past six months, vs. 45.7% and 36.8%, respectively). Conclusions and Scientific Significance: Concurrent alcohol and analgesic use is prevalent among nonmedical users of prescription analgesics. Findings suggest a need for heightened awareness and increased research of the risks of coingestion.

Language: en