Yet our finding that blacks and Hispanics have equivalent or marginally higher rates of social consequences even in the overall population is at odds with NESARC findings, and might reflect measurement differences across the two surveys. Consistent with its focus on diagnosable mental disorders, the NESARC assesses alcohol abuse, a designation requiring that at least one of four DSM-IV criteria be met (i.e., concerning recurring problems with role obligations, relationships, hazardous drinking, and the law), and which is conditional on the absence of a concurrent diagnosis of alcohol dependence. By contrast, the NAS measure of social consequences is not mutually exclusive of alcohol dependence, and reflects a broad concern with social problems. Both measurement approaches are valuable, but perhaps better suited to different purposes. If the primary question is whether groups are differentially impacted by social problems due to drinking, it may be best to use non-diagnostic measures that do not hinge upon dependence status.
