Epidemiology of Substance Dependence Survey

This page describes a 1994 paper in a psychopharmacology journal reporting basic findings from a United States national survey, the National Comorbidity Survey. The paper compared how common dependence was across several substances among Americans aged 15 to 54.

What the paper reports

• About 1 in 4 people (24 per cent) had a history of tobacco dependence.
• About 1 in 7 (14 per cent) had a history of alcohol dependence.
• About 1 in 13 (7.5 per cent) had a history of dependence on an inhalant or a controlled drug.

The paper also reports how many users went on to develop dependence: about one third of tobacco smokers, about 15 per cent of drinkers and about 15 per cent of users of the other drugs. Dependence was assessed using a third-edition diagnostic manual published in 1987.

The authors conclude that dependence on psychoactive substances had affected many more people than other psychiatric conditions that were then given a higher priority in mental health services, prevention and research programs.

The data are from one country and a specific period. For related background see The science. This is general information only.