The design and the sample characteristics
of the NESARC have been described elsewhere.
Briefly, the NESARC was a survey
of the US general population, including residents
of Hawaii and Alaska, sponsored by
the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism. The interviews were completed in
face-to-face encounters with the participants.
The NESARC sample was weighted to adjust
for the unequal probabilities of selection and
to provide nationally representative estimates.
NESARC wave 1 (baseline) was fielded
between 2001 and 2002 and comprised