The meaning of the word craving varies as illustrated by Kozlowski and Wilkinson's reports of ambiguities in use amongst cigarette smokers. We extended this line of investigation to problem drinkers who sought a goal of controlled drinking versus abstinence, to professionals involved in the addictions area, and to university students. Significant differences in meaning were noted particularly among the problem drinkers (N = 256 between 17 and 60 years of age). Reasons for this are offered.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American Psychiatric Association. (1987) Diagnostic and statistical manual. (3rd ed., Rev.) Washington, DC: APA.
2.
KozlowskiL. T.MannR. E.WilkinsonD. A.PoulosC. X. (1989) “Cravings” are ambiguous: ask about urges or desires. Addictive Behaviours, 14, 443–445.
3.
KozlowskiL. T.WilkinsonD. A. (1987) The use and misuse of the concept of craving by alcohol, tobacco, and drug researchers. British Journal of Addiction, 82, 31–36.
4.
SitharthanT.KavanaghD. J. (1991) Role of self-efficacy in predicting outcomes from a programme for controlled drinking. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 27, 87–94.
5.
StockwellT.HodgsonR.EdwardsG.TaylorC.RankinH. (1979) The development of a questionnaire to measure severity of alcohol dependence. British Journal of Addiction, 74, 79–87.
6.
SutherlandG.EdwardsG.TaylorC.PhillipsG.GossopM.BradyR. (1986) The measurement of opiate dependence. British Journal of Addiction, 81, 485–494.
7.
World Health Organization. (1987) International classification of diseases. (10th ed.) Geneva: WHO.
