NESARC Findings on Alcohol Abuse and Dependence

Epidemiology is one of the central disciplines of public health. Its aim is to determine how prevalent a disease is within a population and to identify people who may be at particular risk for it. Epidemiological data provide information that help researchers, public health professionals, and treatment providers alike to better understand the course of disease and to improve its treatment. The National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) is an example of a large, random, representative survey of people living in the United States. This survey addressed all aspects of alcohol use—from determining when a respondent took his or her first drink to discovering whether he or she has experienced co-occurring mental health problems. NESARC’s data have several practical applications: to help us to better define the intricate relationship between alcohol use and comorbidity, understand high-risk drinking patterns, design better-targeted treatment approaches, and monitor recovery from alcohol use disorders. Analyses with NESARC data have only just begun. As more researchers take advantage of the richness of this data set, more knowledge will be gained, helping to advance treatment interventions in the alcohol field.