Perceived Relations Between Pain and Alcohol Use Are Associated with Hazardous Drinking Among Adults with Chronic Pain.

Background: Hazardous alcohol use is highly prevalent among adults with chronic pain. Although there is reason to believe that perceptions about the relationships between pain and alcohol use are important for understanding, predicting, and intervening upon alcohol use behavior, no prior work has explored such perceptions or their association with hazardous drinking.

Methods: Among 273 adults who reported chronic pain and alcohol consumption (M_age = 33), we examined the relationship between perceptions regarding pain and alcohol use and indices of hazardous alcohol behaviors. Participants indicated the extent to which they held perceptions that (1) pain can be a motivator of alcohol consumption, (2) alcohol consumption can help one cope with pain, and (3) pain can be a barrier to quitting drinking. Alcohol use was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, which includes three indices of hazardous drinking: alcohol consumption, harmful drinking, and alcohol dependence.

Results: Perceptions about pain and alcohol accounted for 16-19% of the variance in alcohol consumption, harmful drinking, and alcohol dependence (ps < 0.008). Specifically, perceptions that alcohol can help one cope with pain were positively associated with alcohol consumption and harmful drinking. Perceptions that pain can be a barrier to alcohol reduction were positively associated with alcohol dependence and harmful drinking.

Conclusions: This is the first study to examine relationships between perceptions about pain and alcohol use and hazardous drinking. Findings contribute to a growing literature suggesting that perceptions about the interrelations between pain and substance use may contribute to hazardous patterns of use.