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Where There Is Smoke

Cigarette smoking and alcohol use disorders (AUD) have been closely linked. Yet it is not clear whether higher rates of AUD among smokers are due to heavier drinking or whether smokers are more vulnerable to AUD than non-smokers who drink the same heavier amounts. Using data from the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health, researchers looked at a representative sample of U.S adolescents and young adults to analyze the relationship between smoking and AUD.

Nearly 75,000 non-institutionalized 12-20 year olds from the civilian population were studied for current diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence, number of drinks in the past year, and past year smoking, defined as having more than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and having smoked during the past year.

Researchers found that past year smokers drank higher quantities than never-smokers and were at an elevated risk for AUD – even when compared to never-smokers who drank the same higher quantities. This effect was seen across all age groups but more so among younger adolescents. The results suggest a higher vulnerability to AUD among smokers unrelated to the quantity consumed.

(Grucza, R, Bierut, L,: Cigarette smoking and the risk for alcohol use disorders among adolescent drinkers. Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research 30:2046-2054,2006)

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