Drug abuse and alcohol problems among cocaine abusers in an assessment/referral service

This paper reports the social, demographic and drug abuse backgrounds of cocaine abusers seen at an alcohol and drug abuse assessment centre in Kitchener, Ontario. It compares cocaine abusers to cannabis users and alcoholics of the same age at the same centre. Cocaine and cannabis abusers are mainly young, single males while alcohol abusers are much older. The cocaine and cannabis abusers are both heavy drinkers but the cocaine group contained more high-risk drinkers, more drug injectors and had a higher alcohol consumption. Cocaine abusers are young poly-drug users for whom drinking is also a major problem. Treatment plans should take these problems into account.