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Abstract #160683

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Nnenna Kalu, MS, MPH¹, John Kwagyan, PhD¹, Vanessa Marshall, MA¹, Denise Scott, PhD², Gloria Cain, MSW¹, Kimberly Louis, PhD¹, and Robert E. Taylor, MD/PhD¹. (1) Pharmacology - Howard University Collaborative Alcohol Research Center, Howard University, 520 W Str, NW, Room 3408, Washington, DC 20059, 202-806-9773, n_kalu@howard.edu, (2) College of Medicine- Collaborative Alcohol Research Center, Howard University, 520 W Street,NW, Suite 3408, Washington, DC 20059

INTRODUCTION: Onset of alcohol dependence usually occurs during late adolescence. Prior to alcohol dependence, an individual may start and continue to use substances such as tobacco or marijuana. This paper will examine if the time between initial and regular use of these substances plays a role in the progression to alcohol dependence. METHOD: The sample consisted of 323 African Americans, 174 were alcohol dependent (AD) and 149 non-alcohol dependent (ND). These participants used at least one substance, other than alcohol, regularly (marijuana, tobacco, opiates, cocaine, stimulants, sedatives, other). Differences in time to regular use were contrasted using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with Mantel Cox log rank for significant differences. Significance was established at p<. 05. RESULTS: Only marijuana showed a significant difference in time to regular use (mean ± SD) with 2.60±5.64 years among ADs, compared to 4.21±9.61years in NDs. Additionally, both initial and regular marijuana use (mean ±SD = 15.72±4.24 years and 17.59± 5.34 years, respectively) occurred before regular alcohol use (mean ± SD= 18.05±5.81 years), which in turn occurred before alcohol dependence (mean ± SD =26.36±7.75 years). CONCLUSION: In the current African American sample, the data indicates that the period of substance use may be an indicator of development of alcohol dependence, particularly among populations with a late onset of alcohol dependence. Use of such substances may even precede regular alcohol use. This information is beneficial in tailoring substance use prevention and intervention to a specific community.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Identify duration of progression from initial to regular use of various substances in an alcohol dependent population.
• 2. Articulate the extent to which current substance use functions as a precursor to alcohol dependence in a population of African Americans.
• 3. Construct a time to use model of substance use that can be used in populations that experience late onset alcohol dependence.

Keywords: African American, Alcoholism

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Handout (free access)