title: Probability and predictors of remission from life-time nicotine, alcohol, cannabis or cocaine dependence: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the general and racial/ethnic specific cumulative probability of remission from nicotine alcohol cannabis or cocaine dependence, and to identify predictors of remission across substances.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from structured diagnostic interviews using the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-DSM-IV version.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 2001-2002 National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) surveyed a nationally representative sample from US adults (n = 43,093) selected in a three-stage sampling design.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subsamples of individuals with life-time DSM-IV diagnosis of dependence on nicotine (n = 6937), alcohol (n = 4781), cannabis (n = 530) and cocaine (n = 408).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cumulative probability estimates of dependence remission for the general population and across racial/ethnic groups. Hazard ratios for remission from dependence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Life-time cumulative probability estimates of dependence remission were 83.7% for nicotine, 90.6% for alcohol, 97.2% for cannabis and 99.2% for cocaine. Half of the cases of nicotine, alcohol, cannabis and cocaine dependence remitted approximately 26, 14, 6 and 5 years after dependence onset, respectively. Males, Blacks and individuals with diagnosis of personality disorders and history of substance use comorbidity exhibited lower hazards of remission for at least two substances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant proportion of individuals with dependence on nicotine, alcohol, cannabis or cocaine achieve remission at some point in their life-time, although the probability and time to remission varies by substance and racial/ethnic group. Several predictors of remission are shared by at least two substances, suggesting that the processes of remission overlap. The lower rates of remission of individuals with comorbid personality or substance use disorders highlight the need for providing coordinated psychiatric and substance abuse interventions.
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopez-Quintero
authors.forename: Deborah S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hasin
authors.forename: José Pérez
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: de Los Cobos
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pines
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bridget F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blanco
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D015981:Epidemiologic Factors; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D013997:Time Factors; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult