All measures were based on self-report. Consumption measures reflected self-identified period of heaviest drinking. Average daily volume of ethanol intake was estimated on the basis of overall frequency of drinking, usual and largest quantities of drinks consumed, and frequencies of drinking the largest quantity and 5+ drinks for all types of alcoholic beverage combined. Frequencies were coded from categories into days per year; largest quantity of drinks consumed in a single day was asked in open-ended format. Age at first drink excluded small tastes and sips, and onset of dependence was the age when symptoms began to co-occur. Density of familial alcoholism (Stoltenberg et al., 1998) was calculated by adding a value of 0.5 for each alcoholic parent and 0.25 for each alcoholic grandparent reported by the respondent (range = 0 to 2). Episodes of dependence required an interval of one year without any symptoms between episodes. Wave 1 remission was defined as no symptoms of abuse or dependence in the year preceding the Wave 1 interview. Lifetime treatment comprised 13 different sources, including 12-step or other mutual help programs.
