Risk drinking behavior among psychotropic drug users in an aging Finnish population: The FinDrink study

Ilomäki, Jenni; Korhonen, Maarit Jaana; Enlund, Hannes; Hartzema, Abraham G.; Kauhanen, Jussi

doi:10.1016/j.alcohol.2008.02.002

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Volume 42, Issue 4 , Pages 261-267, June 2008

Risk drinking behavior among psychotropic drug users in an aging Finnish population: The FinDrink study

Jenni Ilomäki
- School of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Kuopio, Kuopio 70211, Finland
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA
- Corresponding author. School of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Kuopio, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland. Tel.: +358-17-163735; fax: +358-17-162937.
Maarit Jaana Korhonen
- School of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Kuopio, Kuopio 70211, Finland
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care (Gerho), Kuopio 70211, Finland
Hannes Enlund
- Department of Social Pharmacy, University of Kuopio, Kuopio 70211, Finland
Abraham G. Hartzema
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA
Jussi Kauhanen
- School of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Kuopio, Kuopio 70211, Finland

Received 30 October 2007; received in revised form 8 February 2008; accepted 9 February 2008. published online 09 April 2008.

Abstract

Psychotropic drug use and alcohol consumption is increasing among aging Finns. Alcohol use is not recommended with benzodiazepines and some other psychotropic medicines. Concomitant use may lead to accidents and other serious consequences. The aim of this study was to analyze the drinking behavior of psychotropic drug users in an aging Finnish population. This study is part of the ongoing epidemiologic FinDrink study. Self-reported data on alcohol consumption and psychotropic drug use were collected from the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study examinations conducted in 1998–2001. Overall, 854 men and 920 women participated in the study. A total of 204 (11.5%) individuals used psychotropic drugs regularly (14.2% of women and 8.5% of men; P<.001). Three quarters of the study population had used alcohol weekly during the preceding year (68.9% of women and 87.5% of men; P<.001). Men who use anxiolytics and sedatives were more likely to drink alcohol at least twice a week (odds ratio=2.42; 95% confidence interval=1.30–4.51), to be binge drinkers (odds ratio=1.86; 95% confidence interval=1.01–3.43) and to be heavy alcohol consumers (odds ratio=2.22; 95% confidence interval= 1.13–4.39) than men not using psychotropics. In women, alcohol consumption and drinking patterns were same between the groups. Our results indicate the potential for alcohol-related health risks among aging Finnish men and women using psychotropic drugs.

Keywords: Psychotropic drugs, Alcohol consumption, Concomitant use, Aging, FinDrink study, Population study