Alcohol consumption in heroin users, methadone-substituted and codeine-substituted patients - Frequency and correlates of use

This retrospective study aims to determine whether there is a
difference in the additional consumption of alcohol between addicts
treated with methadone or dihydrocodeine (DHC) and untreated
addicts injecting heroin. 1,685 patients admitted for opioid
withdrawal between 1991 and 1997 were reviewed. Cross-reference
tables and multiple logistic regression analyses were carried out.
28% of patients take more than 40 g of alcohol daily (on average
176 g). We found that patients who are treated with methadone or
DHC drink alcohol significantly more often daily than the
heroin-dependent patients (p