Ethnic differences in the effect of drug use and drug dependence on brief motivational interventions targeting alcohol use.

BACKGROUND We examined the effects of baseline drug use and dependence on alcohol use outcomes following brief motivational intervention for at-risk drinking (BMI-ETOH). METHODS HLM models were developed to test the interaction of drug use and dependence with BMI-ETOH for alcohol use among Hispanic (n=539), Caucasian (n=667), and black (n=287) patients admitted to a Level-1 trauma center who screened positive for alcohol misuse. RESULTS Analyses of an interaction of drug dependence and BMI-ETOH at baseline showed significant positive effects among Hispanics but not Caucasians or Blacks at six- and 12-months for percent days abstinent (6-month: B=0.27, SE=0.10, p=0.006; 12-month: B=0.41, SE=0.11, p<0.001), volume per week (6-month: B=-1.91, SE=0.77, p=0.01; 12-month: B = -2.71, SE=0.86, p=0.002), and maximum amount consumed (6-month: B = -1.08, SE=0.46, p=0.02; 12-month: B = -1.62, SE=0.52, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS Baseline drug dependence did not negatively impact drinking outcomes. Among Hispanics, those with drug dependence at baseline who received a BMI-ETOH demonstrated consistent improvements across drinking outcomes. While the effects of drug use at baseline on drinking outcomes following BMI-ETOH varied by type of drug used and ethnicity, additional research is required.