title: Prevalence of alcohol dependence among US adult drinkers, 2009-2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Marissa B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Esser
authors.affiliation: Center for Behavior Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Sarra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hedden
authors.affiliation: 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. E-mail: dkk3@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Dafna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kanny
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Brewer
authors.affiliation: Center for Behavior Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Joseph C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gfroerer
authors.affiliation: Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Timothy S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Naimi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult