The relationship between alcohol problems and use of tranquilizing drugs: longitudinal patterns among American women

A previous community study of older adults (Graham et al., 1996) indicated a relationship between alcohol problems and use of tranquilizing drugs despite no relationship between alcohol consumption and tranquilizer use. The present paper explores this issue further using longitudinal data from a representative sample of American women. The results replicated previous findings of a significant relationship between alcohol problems and tranquilizer use that was unrelated to alcohol consumption. Analyses of longitudinal patterns indicated that alcohol problems in 1981 predicted subsequent use of tranquilizing drugs and that this relationship may be moderated by anxiety, with the relationship being strongest for respondents who reported few or no problems with anxiety. The results indicated no support for the relationship being due to: a pharmacological interaction of alcohol with tranquilizing drugs; use of tranquilizing drugs precipitating alcohol problems; or depression, anxiety, poor health or childhood sexual abuse being common causes of both alcohol problems and tranquilizer use. The link between alcohol problems and use of tranquilizing drugs needs to be investigated further to increase understanding of addictive behaviors.