Self-reported use of psychotropic drugs and alcohol abuse in South-Verona.

The data for this cross-sectional survey were obtained from a stratified probability sample of 510 residents in South-Verona during the period May-June 1980. The two-week prevalence of psychotropic drug consumption was found to be 13\%. The prevalence was higher in women (18\%) than in men (9\%). The most commonly consumed category of psychotropic drugs were the benzodiazepines, which accounted for 70\% of all the psychotropic drugs consumed by women and 85\% of those consumed by men. Using a logistic analysis, a strong association between drug consumption and minor psychiatric morbidity, as indicated by the GHQ scores, was found for both sexes, a finding not significantly different from that found in the West London study by Murray et al. (1981). Alcohol abuse in men was less prevalent in the youngest age-group. Thirty-three (19\%) of the male GHQ low scorers were alcohol abusers, compared with 12 (40\%) of the high scorers. No significant association was found between psychotropic drug consumption and alcohol abuse in men.