Heavy drinking and regular psychoactive drug use among gynecological outpatients

Self-reported patterns of alcohol and drug use were examined in gynecological outpatients (n = 1967). Seventeen percent were heavy drinkers, 14% regularly used psychoactive drugs with the potential for nonmedical use, and over 3% both drank heavily and regularly used psychoactive drugs. Significantly higher alcohol intakes (mean usual number of drinks per occasion was 3.6 compared to 3.1, p less than 0.01) and more heavy drinkers (26% compared to 19%, based on quantity-frequency, p less than 0.01) were associated with regular psychoactive drug use. However, the relationship between other measures of alcohol use and regular psychoactive drug use varied as a function of age, marital status, and employment status. Regular psychoactive drug use was significantly elevated among outpatients who were in their fifties, retired/other (not housewives, employed, or looking for work, e.g. students or disabled), not married, or white. The risk of regular psychoactive drug use was more than 1.5 times higher among heavy drinkers than among nonheavy drinkers. It is estimated that there are over 35 million gynecologic office visits per year; therefore, increased case-finding in this population has the potential to reach large numbers of women at risk who otherwise might not be identified.