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.