VARIATION IN THE ASSOCIATION OF ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION WITH 5 DSM-IV ALCOHOL PROBLEM DOMAINS

Data from a nationally representative sample of the U.S. adult populat ion were used to investigate the association between alcohol consumpti on and five discrete problem domains included in the DSM-IV formulatio ns for alcohol abuse and dependence. Two dimensions of consumption wer e considered in the analysis: average daily ethanol intake and the rel ative frequency of drinking five or more drinks. The sample consisted of 22,102 adults defined as current drinkers. After controlling for va rious sociodemographic characteristics, family history of alcoholism, and age at onset of drinking, both consumption measures retained signi ficant levels of association within all five problem domains. The magn itudes of the odds ratios at selected levels of consumption were simil ar to 50% greater for the domains of impaired control, continued drink ing despite problems and hazardous drinking than for the domains of to lerance and withdrawal. Moreover, the factors that modified the effect of the consumption measures varied markedly across domains, with age, college education, and race the most consistent modifiers of the effe ct of alcohol consumption.