Meta-analytic estimates suggested an overall significant increase in the prevalence of alcohol use of approximately 0.3% per year (β=.0030) or a net increase of 3.0% per decade. This increase was larger among women (~0.6% per year) and was not significant among men. With respect to race/ethnicity, the largest net increase of nearly 1.0% per year was observed among Blacks; smaller increases were observed for Whites and Hispanics (0.3% and 0.5% per year, respectively), no significant change was observed for the Asian/Pacific Islander group, and a significant decrease in prevalence was observed for Native Americans (β=−.0040, SE=.0017, p=.02). The rate of increase in alcohol use varied markedly as a function of age, with no significant increase observed in the 18–29 year group. A small but significant increase was observed for the 30–49 year group, but much larger increases were observed for the 50–64 and 65+ age groups with an annual increase of nearly 1% for the 65 and over group. Differences by educational attainment were comparatively small. Simulated trend lines for past-year alcohol use prevalence using reference data from the NSDUH and calculated based on the meta-analytic trend estimates are plotted in Figure 3.
