Prevalence of problem alcohol use among patients attending primary care for methadone treatment.
Ryder, Niamh Cullen, Walter Barry, Joseph Bury, Gerard Keenan, Eamon Smyth, Bobby P
Ryder, Niamh
Cullen, Walter
Barry, Joseph
Bury, Gerard
Keenan, Eamon
Smyth, Bobby P
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Advisors
Editors
Other Contributors
Date
2012-02-01T10:58:19Z
Date Submitted
Keywords
Other Subjects
Subject Mesh
Adult
Alcoholism/*epidemiology/virology
Analgesics, Opioid/*therapeutic use
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
HIV Seropositivity/epidemiology
Hepatitis C/epidemiology
Heroin Dependence/*epidemiology/*rehabilitation/virology
Humans
Ireland/epidemiology
Male
Methadone/*therapeutic use
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Primary Health Care/*methods
Social Class
Young Adult
Alcoholism/*epidemiology/virology
Analgesics, Opioid/*therapeutic use
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
HIV Seropositivity/epidemiology
Hepatitis C/epidemiology
Heroin Dependence/*epidemiology/*rehabilitation/virology
Humans
Ireland/epidemiology
Male
Methadone/*therapeutic use
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Primary Health Care/*methods
Social Class
Young Adult
Planned Date
Start Date
Collaborators
Principal Investigators
Alternative Titles
Publisher
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Problem alcohol use is associated with adverse health outcomes among current or former heroin users and primary care is providing methadone treatment for increasing numbers of this population. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of problem alcohol use among current or former heroin users attending primary care for methadone treatment and to describe the socio-demographic characteristics and health service utilisation characteristics associated with problem alcohol uses. METHODS: We conducted a cross sectional survey of patients sampled from a national database of patients attending general practice for methadone treatment. Participants were recruited by their general practitioner and data was collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire, which included the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test ('AUDIT'), with a score of >7 considered abnormal (ie 'AUDIT positive cases') and socio-demographic, medical and substance use characteristics. RESULTS: We interviewed 196 patients (71% of those invited, 31% of those sampled, 11% of the national database). The median age was 32 years, 55% were hepatitis C positive, 79% had used illicit drugs in the previous month and 68% were male. Sixty-eight 'AUDIT positive' cases were identified (prevalence of 35%, 95% CI = 28-41%) and these were more likely to have attended a local Emergency Department in the previous year (p < 0.05) and less likely to have attended a hospital clinic in the previous year (p < 0.05). Twenty-seven (14%) scored 20 or higher indicating possible alcohol dependence. CONCLUSION: Problem alcohol use has a high prevalence among current or former heroin users attending primary care for methadone treatment and interventions that address this issue should be explored as a priority. Interventions that address problem alcohol use in this population should be considered as a priority, although the complex medical and psychological needs of this population may make this challenging.
Language
eng
Citation
ISSN
1471-2296 (Electronic)
1471-2296 (Linking)
1471-2296 (Linking)
eISSN
ISBN
DOI
10.1186/1471-2296-10-42
PMID
19519882