Cited by 452Substance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesMental Health Treatment and AccessGambling Behavior and Treatments

The National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) Waves 1 and 2: review and summary of findings

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Hasin, Deborah S., Grant, Bridget F.·2015·Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

Abstract

Purpose The NESARC, a "third-generation" psychiatric epidemiologic survey that integrated detailed measures of alcohol and drug use and problems has been the data source for over >850 publications. A comprehensive review of NESARC findings and their implications is lacking.Method NESARC was a survey of 43,093 participants that covered alcohol, drug and psychiatric disorders, risk factors, and consequences. Wave 1 of the NESARC was conducted in 2001-2002. Three years later, Wave 2 follow-up re-interviews were conducted with 34,653 of the original participants. Scopus and Pubmed were used to search for NESARC papers, which were sorted into topic areas and summarized.Result The most common disorders were alcohol and posttraumatic stress disorders, and major depression. Females had more internalizing disorders and males had more externalizing disorders, although the preponderance of males with alcohol disorders (the "gender gap") was less pronounced than it was in previous decades. A race/ethnic "paradox" (lower risk among disadvantaged minorities than whites) remains unexplained. Younger participants had higher risk for substance and personality disorders, but not unipolar depressive or anxiety disorders. Psychiatric comorbidity was extensive and often formed latent trans-diagnostic domains. Since 1991-1992, risk for marijuana and prescription drug disorders increased, while smoking decreased, although smoking decreases were less pronounced among those with comorbidity. A nexus of comorbidity, social support, and stress predicted transitions in diagnostic status between Waves 1 and 2. Childhood maltreatment predicted psychopathology. Alcohol and drug use disorders were seldom treated; attitudinal barriers (little perceived need, perceived alcoholism stigma, pessimism about efficacy) were more important in predicting non-treatment than financial barriers.Conclusions Understanding comorbidity and the effects of early stressors will require research incorporating biologic components, e.g., genetic variants and brain imaging. The lack of treatment for alcohol and drug disorders, predicted by attitudinal rather than financial variables, suggests an urgent need for public and professional education to reduce the stigma associated with these disorders and increase knowledge of treatment options.

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [8]Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH): Summary of Methodological Studies, 1971–2014 2014 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Rockville, MD 30199189
  2. [547]National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III) http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/research/nesarc-iii PMC3860461 23584812

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Authors
Hasin, D. S., & Grant, B. F.
Affiliations
  • New York State Psychiatric Institute (US)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
Grant, Bridget F.
Venue
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published
2015-07-26
Volume
50
Issue
11
Pages
1609-1640
ISSN
  • 0933-7954 (ISSN-L)
  • 1433-9285
OpenAlex
W979688486
Cited by
452
References
550
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 70 · 2019: 47 · 2018: 44 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 1
FWCI
4.77
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
NIAAA (U01AA018111)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
Keywords
NESARC, alcoholism, drug use disorders, psychiatric comorbidity, post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, child abuse, cannabis use disorder, prescription drug misuse, smoking, barriers to treatment, social support, stress, longitudinal follow-up
MeSH terms
Alcohol Drinking, Health Surveys, Humans, United States, Alcohol-Related Disorders

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