Document Type
Article
Original Publication Date
2011
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
Volume
35
Issue
8
First Page
1458
Last Page
1466
DOI of Original Publication
10.1111/j.1530-0277.2011.01482.x
Date of Submission
June 2015
Abstract
Background
The objective of this paper is to examine 10-year trends (1992–2002) in the number and type of indicators of DSM-IV abuse and dependence among Whites, Blacks and Hispanics in the U.S.
Methods
Data are from the 1991–1992 National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey (NLAES; n = 42,862) and the 2001–2002 National Epidemiologic Study on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC; n = 43,093). Both surveys used multistage cluster sample procedures to select respondents 18 years of age and older from the U.S. household population.
Results
Increases in the prevalence of alcohol abuse between 1992 and 2002seem associated to a rise in the prevalence of the indicator for “hazardous use”, which usually means reports of driving after drinking. The decrease in dependence was not associated with changes in a particular indicator. In addition, both in 1992 and 2002, 12.3% to 15.4% of the men and 5.2% to 7.9% of the women were diagnostic “orphans”. These respondents reported 1 or 2 indicators of alcohol dependence as present.
Conclusion
The observed trends in number and types of indicators of DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence were probably triggered by a complex interplay between individuals’ volume and pattern of drinking and reactions from the drinkers’ social environment. The close association between hazardous use of alcohol and the prevalence of abuse deserves further discussion. A medical diagnostic category should not be so dependent on a criterion that may be influenced by social situations. It is necessary to understand more about diagnostic “orphans” to better design interventions to address their problems.
Rights
Copyright © 2011 by the Research Society on Alcoholism. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Caetano, R., Baruah, J. and Chartier, K. G. (2011), Ten-Year Trends (1992 to 2002) in Sociodemographic Predictors and Indicators of Alcohol Abuse and Dependence Among Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics in the United States. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 35: 1458–1466, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-0277.2011.01482.x. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.
Is Part Of
VCU Social Work Publications
Comments
Published in final edited form as: Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2011 Aug; 35(8): 1458–1466. Published online 2011 Mar 25. doi: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2011.01482.x PMCID: PMC3143232 NIHMSID: NIHMS275757