Alcohol, Tobacco and Psychotropic Drugs Use Among a Population with Chronic Pain in Southern Spain. A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Substance use seems to be higher among populations with chronic pain. AIM: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the quantity of alcohol, tobacco, and psychotropic drugs consumed and chronic pain among women and men. METHOD: Linear and logistic regression analyses were carried out using data from the 2015-2016 adults' version of the Andalusian Health Survey which is a representative cross-sectional population-based study (n = 6,569 adults aged >16 years; 50.8% women; 49.2% men). RESULTS: Disabling chronic pain was statistically associated with higher tobacco consumption among men (β = -30.0, 95% confidenct interval CI -59.5 to -0.60; t = -2.0; p < .05). Regarding alcohol, non-disabling chronic pain and a higher quantity of alcohol consumed are statistically associated for both sexes (women: β = 30.4, 95% CI 2.3-58.6; t = 2.12; p < .05 vs. men: β = 164.2, 95% CI 24.3-340.1); t = 2.30; p < .05). For women and men, both disabling chronic pain (women: odds ratio OR = 8.7, 95% CI 6.0-12.7); p < .05 vs. men: OR = 3.5, 95% CI 1.5-8.2); p < .05) and non-disabling chronic pain (women: OR = 3.7, 95% CI 2.0-7.0); p <.05 vs. men: OR = 4.7, 95% CI 95% CI 1.5-14.9); p < .05) were statistically significantly associated with a higher consumption of psychotropic drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic pain may be related to the quantity of alcohol, tobacco, and psychotropic drugs consumed, and disability appears to be one of the factors that modulates this relationship.