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Alcohol and Cocaine Abuse

A Comparison of Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics

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Recent Developments in Alcoholism

Part of the book series: Recent Developments in Alcoholism ((RDIA,volume 10))

Abstract

Increasing numbers of persons presenting for substance abuse treatment are multiple-substance users and their predominant drugs of choice are cocaine and alcohol. There are similarities in the treatment of alcohol and cocaine abuse, but important clinical differences need to be acknowledged. This chapter compares and contrasts the most recent epidemiology and clinical characteristics of both alcohol and cocaine abusers. First, use and abuse trends in the United States for both substances are described. The clinical characteristics of dependence on either substance are contrasted in detail, and finally, treatments are briefly described. Treatment for both disorders can be accomplished in the same setting if important demographic and pharmacological differences are addressed. In either disorder, comorbid psychopathology is frequent and appropriate treatment matching based on diagnosis is imperative.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Substance Abuse Treatment Unit, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, 06519, USA

    Mary H. Closser & Thomas R. Kosten

Authors
  1. Mary H. Closser
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  2. Thomas R. Kosten
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA

    Marc Galanter

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© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Closser, M.H., Kosten, T.R. (1992). Alcohol and Cocaine Abuse. In: Galanter, M. (eds) Recent Developments in Alcoholism. Recent Developments in Alcoholism, vol 10. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1648-8_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1648-8_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-1650-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-1648-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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