Table 2.
Factors associated with scoring greater than 7 on AUDIT questionnaire.
| Factor | AUDIT positive cases (n = 68) | AUDIT negative cases (n = 128) | Odds ratio (95% CI) | Chi 2 statistic (p value) |
| Sociodemographic characteristics | ||||
| Age under 33 | 38(56%) | 71(56%) | 1.02(0.56–1.84) | 0.00(0.96) |
| Male gender | 50(74%) | 83(65%) | 1.51(0.79–2.88) | 1.54(0.22) |
| Attending GP for 48 months or less | 36(53%) | 55(52%) | 1.06(0.59–1.91) | 0.34(0.85) |
| Currently in full or part-time employment | 29(46%) | 59(48%) | 0.91(0.50–1.68) | 0.09(0.76) |
| Living in own home | 11(18%) | 26(21%) | 0.78(0.36–1.71) | 0.39(0.54) |
| Living with at least one relative | 41(65%) | 75(62%) | 1.17(0.62–2.20) | 0.82(0.66) |
| Living with a partner/spouse | 27(66%) | 50(67%) | 0.96(0.43–2.16) | 0.01(0.93) |
| Has children | 39(62%) | 90(74%) | 0.58(0.30–1.11) | 2.77(0.10) |
| Living with children | 22(56%) | 63(70%) | 0.56(0.26–1.21) | 2.24(0.14) |
| Problem substance use | ||||
| Current methadone treatment episode 48 months or less | 38(56%) | 67(52%) | 1.15(0.64–2.08) | 0.22(0.64) |
| Methadone dose of 60 mgs or less daily | 25(37%) | 35(27%) | 1.55(0.83–2.89) | 1.86(0.17) |
| Maintenance methadone treatment * | 50(74%) | 110(86%) | 0.46(0.22–0.95) | 4.56(0.03) |
| First used heroin at 18 years or younger | 44(65%) | 80(63%) | 1.08(0.58–1.99) | 0.06(0.81) |
| Have injected heroin ever | 47(69%) | 102(80%) | 0.57(0.29–1.12) | 2.72(0.10) |
| Other medical issues | ||||
| Tested for hepatitis C in the previous 12 months | 41(60%) | 73(57%) | 1.14(0.63–2.08) | 0.19(0.66) |
| Perceived to be hepatitis C positive | 36(58%) | 71(56%) | 1.07(0.58–1.98) | 0.05(0.82) |
| Tested for HIV in the previous 12 months | 40(59%) | 71(56%) | 1.15(0.63–2.08) | 0.20(0.65) |
| Perceived to be HIV positive | 3(5%) | 7(6%) | 0.86(0.21–3.44) | 0.05(0.83) |
| Attended a hospital clinic in the last year* | 7(10%) | 32(25%) | 0.34(0.14–0.83) | 6.03(0.01) |
| Attended a local Emergency Department in the last year* | 17(25%) | 17(13%) | 2.18(1.03–4.61) | 4.25(0.04) |
| Use of illicit substances in the previous month | ||||
| Any illicit substance | 57(84%) | 98(77%) | 1.59(0.74–3.41) | 1.42(0.23) |
| Cannabis | 46(68%) | 73(57%) | 1.58(0.85–2.92) | 2.10(0.15) |
| Heroin | 21(31%) | 28(22%) | 1.60(0.82–3.10) | 1.92(0.17) |
| Methadone | 10(15%) | 12(9%) | 1.67(0.68–4.09) | 1.27(0.26) |
| Benzodiazepines* | 21(31%) | 21(16%) | 2.28(1.14–4.56) | 5.53(0.02) |
| Cocaine | 12(17.6%) | 14(11%) | 1.75(0.76–4.02) | 1.74(0.19) |
| Crack cocaine | 1(2%) | 5(4%) | 0.37(0.04–3.21) | 0.89(0.35) |
| Amphetamines* | 3 (4%) | 0(0%) | N/A | 5.74(0.02) |
* association at < 0.05 significance level;
** association at < 0.01 significance level.