The relationship of alcohol use to cocaine relapse in cocaine dependent patients in an aftercare study

Objective: To examine the relationship between alcohol use and cocaine relapse. Method: Ninety-eight cocaine-dependent male patients in aftercare were followed for 6 months following completion of an intensive outpatient rehabilitation program (IOP). Past and current alcohol dependence was assessed at entrance into aftercare, and drinking behavior prior to cocaine relapse and "near miss" episodes was assessed at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Data on cocaine and alcohol use throughout the follow-up were also obtained. Results: Patients who had never met criteria for alcohol dependence and those with current alcohol dependence had worse cocaine outcomes (cocaine use on 10% and 7%; of the days in the follow-up, respectively) than those with past alcohol dependence (cocaine use on 3% of the days in the follow-up), although alcohol dependence status no longer predicted cocaine use outcomes when cocaine use in IOP was controlled. Alcohol use in 4 of the first 5 follow-up months significantly predicted cocaine relapse status in the next month after cocaine use in IOP and alcohol dependence diagnosis at baseline were controlled. Patients who experienced cocaine relapses were much more likely to report drinking before the onset of the episode than those who had "near misses," particularly on the day of the episode (40% vs 6% at 3 months: 62% vs 0% at 6 months). Alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the relapses of cocaine patients with no history of alcohol dependence. even though they did report drinking on 5% of the days in the follow-up. Conclusions: Relapse prevention efforts with cocaine abusers who have histories of alcohol dependence should include interventions designed to reduce drinking.