The component subsamples shared several characteristics typical of a general community sample (Table S4 in the Supplement): (i) most alcohol dependent cases were mild, with 70% of those meeting alcohol dependence criteria reporting only 3 or 4 dependence symptoms, and fewer than 5% reporting 7 dependence symptoms (not shown); (ii) a moderately high percentage of these affected individuals denied weekly drinking to intoxication, and a minority denied even weekly drinking of 5 or more standard drinks in a single day, during their 12-month period of heaviest drinking, implying that a not insignificant number experienced an episode of less than 12 months duration. Alcohol consumption histories, stratified by alcohol dependence history and gender, were comparable across subsamples, supporting the decision to combine the subsamples in a single analysis.
