title: The drug-of-choice phenomenon psychological differences among drug users who preferred different drugs.
abstract: The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, the Sensation Seeking Scale, and the Brief Symptom Inventory were administered to 125 recovering drug users with three or more months abstinent from drugs. Subjects were divided according to drug preference: opiates, stimulants, marijuana, alcohol, and a polydrug preference. Opiate users were significantly higher in Susceptibility to Boredom. Alcohol misusers compared to a combined stimulant, opiate, and polydrug group were significantly lower in Extroversion and Susceptibility to Boredom. Subjects raised in drug/alcohol-using families scored significantly higher on Neuroticism and on the Positive Symptom Total of the BSI, and had a higher rate of suicidality.
authors.affiliation: San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group Wright Institute, Berkeley, California 94115, USA.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002188:Cannabis; D002755:Choice Behavior; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D000431:Ethanol