Alcohol use by persons with recent spinal cord injury

Detailed drinking histories, prevalence of alcohol abuse, and consequences of alcohol use were studied in 103 persons with recent spinal cord injury. Ninety-five percent of the sample acknowledge prior alcohol use. The mean weekday quantity of alcohol consumed was 5.9 drinks (SD = 4.7), with a range of one to 24 drinks per drinking episode during the six months before disability onset. The median frequency of alcohol use was one to two times per week. The sample's mean Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) score was 6.8 (SD = 8.0), above the usual cutoff of 5.0, which is interpreted as indicating problematic alcohol use. Forty-nine percent of the sample had scores equal to or exceeding this cutoff. These results suggest that a significant number of individuals with recent spinal cord injuries have heavy drinking histories and experience behavioral problems resulting from alcohol use. The MAST proved to be an efficient method of assessing alcohol-related problems among those with recent spinal cord injuries. Finally, treatment and hospital policy implications are discussed.