title: Stimulant use trajectories and the longitudinal risk of heavy drinking: findings from a rural population-based study.
abstract: The extant literature offers little information about the longitudinal course of alcohol use among stimulant users, particularly those in rural areas, but it is plausible that reductions in stimulant use are accompanied by increases in heavy drinking. The objective of this study was to examine the longitudinal relationships between heavy drinking days and latent trajectories of powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine use. Participants (n=710) were identified via Respondent-Driven Sampling in 3 rural communities in each of 3 states, with interviews conducted every 6 months over 3 years. Latent trajectory classes for powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine use were identified by conducting latent class growth analysis (LCGA). Generalized linear models (GLM) were conducted to examine how these latent classes were associated with the number of heavy drinking days in the past 30 days. Heavy drinking days did not significantly change over time when adjusting for covariates. Compared to those with a "fast low" trajectory of crack use, those with "steady high" and "declining" trajectories had more heavy drinking days. Compared to those with a "fast low" trajectory of powder cocaine use, those with a "steady moderate" trajectory had more heavy drinking days. Trajectories of methamphetamine use were not significantly associated with heavy drinking days. In conclusion, heavy alcohol use changes little over time among rural stimulant users. Many rural cocaine users could potentially benefit from interventions aimed at curtailing heavy drinking.
authors: Department of Health Policy and Management, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham St., #820, Little Rock, AR 72205-7199, United States. tfborders@uams.edu
authors: Tyrone F
authors: TF
authors: Borders
authors: Brenda M
authors: BM
authors: Booth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D001131:Arkansas / Q000453:epidemiology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007629:Kentucky / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008694:Methamphetamine; D003042:Cocaine