Table 1 presents the 1-year prevalence rates, standard errors, and population estimates of DSM–IV alcohol abuse and dependence by age, sex, and ethnicity. The DSM–IV abuse and dependence groups formed by the 1992 NLAES were mutually exclusive. Respondents classified as alcohol abusers did not meet criteria for alcohol dependence; however, those who met criteria for dependence were classified as to whether they also met the criteria for alcohol abuse. Hierarchically, the DSM–IV does not allow a diagnosis of abuse in the presence of dependence, and thus all respondents classified in this bulletin as alcohol dependent with and without abuse would receive only a formal diagnosis of dependence. The purpose of disaggregating respondents classified as dependent with and without abuse merely was to provide more detail concerning the diagnostic status of respondents classified as alcohol dependent.
