Factors Related to Simultaneous Cocaine and Alcohol Use for Clients in Treatment

Abstract

Research shows that alcohol and cocaine are frequently used simultaneously; however, few field studies have been conducted on the patterns, functions and contexts of simultaneous cocaine and alcohol use. Simultaneous use is typically defined as using both substances within a three hour period of one another [1]. Several studies have shown that a large majority of treatment clients with cocaine problems also drink alcohol [2]. The health profiles of treatment clients concurrently dependent on cocaine and alcohol compared to those who are dependent on either cocaine alone or alcohol alone has recently been reported [3]. In this study, health consequences across four dimensions of physical, social, mental and economic health were similar for the concurrent and cocaine group, but both of these groups had significantly worse health profiles across all dimensions than those dependent on alcohol alone.