High risk behaviours following alcohol use in alcohol dependent men.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Heavy alcohol drinking and propensity to risk taking behaviour may both be associated with the occurrence of high risk behaviour. The present study was carried out to examine the association between high risk behaviours and alcohol abuse among patients admitted to an inpatient facility for treatment of alcohol dependence syndrome. METHODS Using event analysis technique, the prevalence and type of high risk behaviour as a consequence of a heavy drinking episode was identified among heavy drinkers. Four types of high risk behaviour namely road traffic accidents, violence, self-injurious and risky sexual behaviour were studied. Patients with and without high risk behaviour were compared on measures of severity of drinking, sensation seeking and impulsivity using addiction severity index, sensation seeking scale and Baratt's impulsivity scale respectively. RESULTS In 300 subjects with alcohol dependence syndrome, the most common high risk behaviour was road traffic accident following alcohol use. In 193 (64.3%) subjects heavy drinking episode was associated with high risk behaviours. Compared to those without high risk behaviours, the subjects with high risk behaviours had higher scores on sensation seeking scale and addiction severity index. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION Our findings indicated that there was a high prevalence of high risk behaviour following an episode of heavy drinking in male patients with alcohol dependence syndrome. Both, severity of drinking and personality factors were associated with the occurrence of high risk behaviour as a consequence of heavy drinking.