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Alcohol Dependence or Abuse

The NSDUH Report:  Alcohol Dependence or Abuse - 2002, 2003, & 2004

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Highlights:

  • SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use & Health defines alcohol dependence or abuse using criteria specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). The criteria includes symptoms such as withdrawal, tolerance, use in dangerous situations, trouble with the law, and interference in major obligations at work, school, or home during the past year.
  • Based on combined data from SAMHSA's 2002-2004 National Surveys on Drug Use & Health, 7.6% (18.2 million) persons aged 12 or older met the criteria for alcohol dependence or abuse in the past year.
  • Alcohol abuse or dependence was more prevalent among adults aged 18 or older who were never married (16%) than adults who were divorced or separated (4.6%) or widowed (1.3%).

This Short Report, The NSDUH Report:  Alcohol Dependence or Abuse - 2002, 2003, & 2004,  is based on SAMHSA's  National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted by the Office of Applied Studies (OAS) in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is the primary source of information on the prevalence, patterns, and consequences of drug and alcohol use and abuse and for selected mental health measures in the general U.S. civilian non institutionalized population, age 12 and older.   SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use & Health also provides estimates for drug use and for selected mental health measures by State.

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This page was last updated on August 22, 2007.

SAMHSA, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's lead agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services in the United States.

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