Preventing Chronic Disease | Prevalence of Alcohol Dependence Among US Adult Drinkers, 2009–2011 - CDC

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Preventing Chronic Disease | Prevalence of Alcohol Dependence Among US Adult Drinkers, 2009–2011 - CDC

Prevalence of Alcohol Dependence Among US Adult Drinkers, 2009–2011

Marissa B. Esser, MPH; Sarra L. Hedden, PhD; Dafna Kanny, PhD; Robert D. Brewer, MD, MSPH; Joseph C. Gfroerer, BA; Timothy S. Naimi, MD, MPH

Suggested citation for this article: Esser MB, Hedden SL, Kanny D, Brewer RD, Gfroerer JC, Naimi TS. Prevalence of Alcohol Dependence Among US Adult Drinkers, 2009–2011. Prev Chronic Dis 2014;11:140329. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd11.140329.

MEDSCAPE CME Medscape, LLC is pleased to provide online continuing medical education (CME) for this journal article, allowing clinicians the opportunity to earn CME credit. This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of Medscape, LLC and Preventing Chronic Disease. Medscape, LLC is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Medscape, LLC designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. All other clinicians completing this activity will be issued a certificate of participation. To participate in this journal CME activity: (1) review the learning objectives and author disclosures; (2) study the education content; (3) take the post-test with a 75% minimum passing score and complete the evaluation at www.medscape.org/journal/pcd; (4) view/print certificate. Release date: November 20, 2014; Expiration date: November 20, 2015

Learning Objectives Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to: Describe excessive drinking and clinical correlates among adult drinkers in the United States, based on a database study of survey responses Describe binge drinking and clinical correlates among adult drinkers in the United States Describe alcohol dependence and clinical correlates among adult drinkers in the United States   EDITORS Ellen Taratus, Editor, Preventing Chronic Disease. Disclosure: Ellen Taratus has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. CME AUTHOR Laurie Barclay, MD, Freelance writer and reviewer, Medscape, LLC. Disclosure: Laurie Barclay, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. AUTHORS AND CREDENTIALS Disclosures: Marissa Esser, MPH; Sarra L. Hedden, PhD; Dafna Kanny, PhD; Robert Brewer, MD, MSPH; Joseph Gfroerer, BA; and Timothy S. Naimi, MD, MPH have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Affiliations: Dafna Kanny, Marissa Esser, Robert Brewer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Sarra L. Hedden, Joseph Gfroerer, Center for Behavior Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, Maryland; Timothy S. Naimi, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.

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Abstract

Introduction
Excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for 88,000 deaths annually and cost the United States $223.5 billion in 2006. It is often assumed that most excessive drinkers are alcohol dependent. However, few studies have examined the prevalence of alcohol dependence among excessive drinkers. The objective of this study was to update prior estimates of the prevalence of alcohol dependence among US adult drinkers.

Methods
Data were analyzed from the 138,100 adults who responded to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2009, 2010, or 2011. Drinking patterns (ie, past-year drinking, excessive drinking, and binge drinking) were assessed by sociodemographic characteristics and alcohol dependence (assessed through self-reported survey responses and defined as meeting ≥3 of 7 criteria for dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition).

Results
Excessive drinking, binge drinking, and alcohol dependence were most common among men and those aged 18 to 24. Binge drinking was most common among those with annual family incomes of $75,000 or more, whereas alcohol dependence was most common among those with annual family incomes of less than $25,000. The prevalence of alcohol dependence was 10.2% among excessive drinkers, 10.5% among binge drinkers, and 1.3% among non-binge drinkers. A positive relationship was found between alcohol dependence and binge drinking frequency.

Conclusion
Most excessive drinkers (90%) did not meet the criteria for alcohol dependence. A comprehensive approach to reducing excessive drinking that emphasizes evidence-based policy strategies and clinical preventive services could have an impact on reducing excessive drinking in addition to focusing on the implementation of addiction treatment services.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for their help in collecting and analyzing the data used in this study. At RTI International, Stephanie N. Barnett, Devon S. Cribb, Jeremy D. Porter, and Lauren K. Warren helped conduct the statistical analyses. The authors have no financial disclosures to declare.

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Author Information

Corresponding Author: Dafna Kanny, PhD, Alcohol Program, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, MS-F78, Atlanta, GA 30341. Telephone: 770-488-5411. E-mail: dkk3@cdc.gov.

Author Affiliations: Marissa B. Esser, Robert D. Brewer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Sarra L. Hedden, Joseph C. Gfroerer, Center for Behavior Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, Maryland; Timothy S. Naimi, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.

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