TABLE 1-1, Criteria for Alcohol Abuse and Dependence as Defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) - Reducing Underage Drinking

Alcohol Use Disorder	Brief Identifier of Symptom	DSM-IV Definition
Alcohol abuse	Role impairment	Frequent intoxication leading to failure to fulfill major role obligations (e.g., at school, work, or home)
	Hazardous use	Recurrent use when it is physically hazardous (e.g., driving while intoxicated)
	Legal problems	Recurrent alcohol-related legal problems
	Social problems	Continued drinking despite knowledge of persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused by or exacerbated by alcohol use
Alcohol dependence	Tolerance	Need to increase consumption by 50 percent or more to achieve the same effects; markedly reduced effects when drinking the same amount
	Withdrawal	Signs of alcohol withdrawal; drinking to avoid or relieve withdrawal
	Using more or longer than intended	Recurrent drinking of larger amounts or for a longer period of time than intended
	Quit/cut down	Unsuccessful attempts or a persistent desire to quit or cut down on drinking
	Much time spent using alcohol	Much time spent using, obtaining, or recovering from the effects of alcohol
	Reduced activities	Important social or recreational activities given up or reduced in favor of alcohol use
	Psychological/physical problems	Continued drinking despite knowledge of a recurrent or persistent psychological or physical problem caused or exacerbated by alcohol use

Alcohol Use Disorder

Brief Identifier of Symptom

DSM-IV Definition

Alcohol abuse

Role impairment

Frequent intoxication leading to failure to fulfill major role obligations (e.g., at school, work, or home)

Hazardous use

Recurrent use when it is physically hazardous (e.g., driving while intoxicated)

Legal problems

Recurrent alcohol-related legal problems

Social problems

Continued drinking despite knowledge of persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused by or exacerbated by alcohol use

Alcohol dependence

Tolerance

Need to increase consumption by 50 percent or more to achieve the same effects; markedly reduced effects when drinking the same amount

Withdrawal

Signs of alcohol withdrawal; drinking to avoid or relieve withdrawal

Using more or longer than intended

Recurrent drinking of larger amounts or for a longer period of time than intended

Quit/cut down

Unsuccessful attempts or a persistent desire to quit or cut down on drinking

Much time spent using alcohol

Much time spent using, obtaining, or recovering from the effects of alcohol

Reduced activities

Important social or recreational activities given up or reduced in favor of alcohol use

Psychological/physical problems

Continued drinking despite knowledge of a recurrent or persistent psychological or physical problem caused or exacerbated by alcohol use

From: 1, The Epidemiology of Underage Drinking in the United States: An Overview

Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility.

National Research Council (US) and Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Developing a Strategy to Reduce and Prevent Underage Drinking; Bonnie RJ, O'Connell ME, editors.

Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2004.

NCBI Bookshelf. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

TABLE 1-1Criteria for Alcohol Abuse and Dependence as Defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV)