It is estimated that far fewer people with schizophrenia are considered regular alcohol abusers (<20%) compared to lifetime alcohol use rates reported to be as high as 77% (Cruce & Ojehagen, 2007; Drake et al., 1989; Duke et al., 1994; Fowler et al., 1998; McCreadie, 2002) and it may reflect social use more than dependence (Fowler et al., 1998). This discrepancy between frequency of lifetime use and regular use of alcohol in people with schizophrenia might account for why the observed trend toward mortality reduction in alcohol users in our population is not statistically significant. In the general population moderate alcohol intake has been frequently reported to be associated with decreased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (Agarwal, 2002; Gronbaek et al., 2004; Klatsky et al., 2003; Malinski et al., 2004; Mukamal et al., 2003; Murray et al., 2002; Wells et al., 2004; Wilkins, 2002).
