Patterns and Correlates of Polysubstance Use Among Individuals With Severe Alcohol Use Disorder. 2022

Mallory Stephenson, and Steven H Aggen, and Kathryn Polak, and Dace S Svikis, and Kenneth S Kendler, and Alexis C Edwards
Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, 800 East Leigh Street, Box 980126, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.

OBJECTIVE The present study examined patterns and correlates of polysubstance use among individuals with severe alcohol use disorder (AUD). METHODS Participants were 2785 individuals (63% female; mean age = 43 years, range = 18-78 years) from the Genes, Addiction and Personality Study. All participants met lifetime criteria for severe AUD (6+ symptoms). We used latent class analysis to identify patterns of frequency of lifetime use for cigarettes, marijuana, cocaine, stimulants, sedatives, opioids and hallucinogens. A variety of demographic and behavioral correlates of latent class membership were tested in univariable and multivariable models. RESULTS A five-class solution was selected: extended range polysubstance use (24.5%); cigarette and marijuana use (18.8%); 'testers,' characterized by high probabilities of smoking 100 or more cigarettes, using marijuana 6+ times, and trying the remaining substances 1-5 times (12.3%); moderate range polysubstance use (17.1%) and minimal use (reference class; 27.3%). In univariable analyses, all potential correlates were related to latent class membership. In the multivariable model, associations with gender, race/ethnicity, age of onset for alcohol problems, dimensions of impulsivity, depressive symptoms, antisocial behavior and family history density of alcohol problems remained significant, though the pattern and strength of associations differed across classes. For instance, sensation-seeking, lack of premeditation and family history were uniquely associated with membership in the extended range polysubstance use class. CONCLUSIONS Patterns of polysubstance use are differentially related to demographic and behavioral factors among individuals with severe AUD. Assessing use across multiple substances may inform the selection of targets for treatment and prevention.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008385 Marijuana Smoking Inhaling and exhaling SMOKE from CANNABIS. Cannabis Smoking,Hashish Smoking,Marihuana Smoking,Smoking Blunts,Smoking, Blunts,Blunt, Smoking,Blunts Smoking,Blunts Smokings,Blunts, Smoking,Smoking Blunt,Smoking, Cannabis,Smoking, Hashish,Smoking, Marihuana,Smoking, Marijuana,Smokings, Blunts
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D000428 Alcohol Drinking Behaviors associated with the ingesting of ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, including social drinking. Alcohol Consumption,Alcohol Intake,Drinking, Alcohol,Alcohol Drinking Habits,Alcohol Drinking Habit,Alcohol Intakes,Consumption, Alcohol,Drinking Habit, Alcohol,Habit, Alcohol Drinking,Habits, Alcohol Drinking,Intake, Alcohol
D000437 Alcoholism A primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic. (Morse & Flavin for the Joint Commission of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction Medicine to Study the Definition and Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism: in JAMA 1992;268:1012-4) Alcohol Abuse,Alcoholic Intoxication, Chronic,Ethanol Abuse,Alcohol Addiction,Alcohol Dependence,Alcohol Use Disorder,Abuse, Alcohol,Abuse, Ethanol,Addiction, Alcohol,Alcohol Use Disorders,Chronic Alcoholic Intoxication,Dependence, Alcohol,Intoxication, Chronic Alcoholic,Use Disorders, Alcohol

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