Multiple studies have shown that risk for lifetime alcohol dependence is higher in those who initiated drinking at an earlier age; however, few studies have examined this relationship by sex and race subgroups.
The purpose of this study is to investigate sex and race differences in age at first drink and development of alcohol dependence.
This study uses data from Wave I of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), a nationally representative sample of 43,093 adults. Those meeting DSM-IV criteria for lifetime alcohol dependence (12.5%) were included in the current analyses. Linear regression was used to compare men and women and Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics on ages at first drink and onset of dependence.
Women were significantly older than men at drinking onset (17.4 vs. 16.5, p <.001), yet there were no differences in mean age of development of alcohol dependence (24.4 vs. 23. 9, p = .140). Thus, preliminary results suggest the time course from first drink to dependence is shorter for women.
Whites and Hispanics were significantly younger than Blacks at drinking onset (16.8, 16.7, and 17.5, p < .001) and at development of alcohol dependence (23.8, 23.8, 27.0, p < .001), demonstrating a longer time course from first drink to dependence for Blacks.
The present study demonstrates age differences, at drinking onset as well as differences in the time lag between initiation of alcohol and development of alcohol dependence.
The implications for the prevention of alcohol dependence are presented.
