Vivian Marlowe
Alcoholism rates in the United States have fluctuated over time, with various factors influencing drinking patterns and alcohol-related harms. Historical data since 1850 indicates that per capita drinking quantities have remained relatively stable, averaging around 8 to 9 liters per year. However, the National Alcohol Prohibition from 1920 to 1933 disrupted this trend, resulting in zero reported consumption during that period. In recent years, several states, including Hawaii, Alabama, Alaska, and Arizona, have witnessed concerning increases in alcohol-related deaths, with a notable rise in chronic causes such as Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). The COVID-19 pandemic also played a role, with heavy alcohol use among Americans surging by nearly 20% during this time, and this trend sustained through 2022. Nevertheless, there is a glimmer of hope, as 2023 saw a decrease in excessive alcohol consumption in comparison to previous years. These mixed trends highlight the dynamic nature of alcoholism rates in the United States, influenced by a range of societal, economic, and health factors.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alcohol use in the United States in 2023 | 224.3 million people ages 12 and older (79.1% in this age group) reported drinking alcohol at some point in their lifetime |
| Alcohol use among youth (ages 12-17) in 2023 | 5.6 million (21.6% in this age group) |
| Alcohol use among adults (ages 18 and older) in 2023 | 218.7 million (84.9% in this age group) |
| Alcohol use in the past year (as of 2023) | 177.3 million people ages 12 and older (62.5% in this age group) |
| Heavy alcohol use in the past month (as of 2023) | 16.4 million people ages 12 and older (5.8% in this age group) |
| Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the past year (as of 2023) | 28.9 million people ages 12 and older (10.2% in this age group) |
| Excessive alcohol consumption during the pandemic | Increased by nearly 20% |
| Lowest rate of excessive alcohol consumption | 16.4% of US adults reported binge and/or heavy drinking in 2023 |
| Alcohol-related deaths in Hawaii | Average of 526 annual deaths |
| Alcohol-related death rate per capita | New Mexico has the highest rate |
| Alcohol-related deaths in Alabama | Average of one death from excessive alcohol use for every 2,275 people aged 18 and older |
| Alcohol-related deaths in Alaska | Average of one death from excessive alcohol use for every 1,694 people aged 18 and older |
| Alcoholism rates (as of 2021) | One in eight American adults (12.7% of the population) |
| Alcohol-related deaths (as of 2021) | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 88,000 people a year |
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What You'll Learn
Alcoholism rates by gender
Alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a serious issue that has impacted the United States for centuries. Alcohol consumption is a known risk factor for various health conditions and premature death, and it is linked to negative outcomes such as crime and road incidents. While alcohol consumption rates have remained relatively constant over the long term in the US, the gender dynamics of alcoholism rates have evolved.
Historically, males in the United States consumed more alcohol and experienced higher rates of alcohol-related injuries and deaths than females. However, over time, the differences in alcohol consumption and related harms between males and females have diminished significantly. This narrowing gender gap is evident in the increasing rates of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harms among older female drinkers compared to their male counterparts.
According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 16.4 million people aged 12 and older reported heavy alcohol use in the past month, with a higher proportion of males (7.1%) than females (4.5%). Similarly, among youth aged 12 to 17, 0.5% reported heavy alcohol use, including 0.5% of boys and 0.6% of girls. These findings suggest that while males still have higher rates of heavy alcohol use, the gap between genders is narrowing.
When considering alcohol use disorder (AUD), the 2023 NSDUH reported that 28.9 million people aged 12 and older (10.2%) had AUD in the past year, with higher rates among males (12.1%) than females (8.3%). This data aligns with the general notion that a higher percentage of men experience alcoholism compared to women. However, it's important to note that this trend does not hold across all demographics, and the rates of AUD among female physicians, for example, are surprisingly high.
The reasons for higher rates of AUD among female physicians are multifaceted. Studies have shown that female surgeons and physicians often suffer from work-home life conflicts, leading to high rates of depression, burnout, and alcohol abuse. Job-related burnout is strongly associated with chemical dependence and mental health issues, contributing to the elevated risk of AUD in this demographic.
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Alcoholism rates by race
Alcoholism rates in the United States vary across different racial and ethnic groups. Research has shown that American Indians/Alaska Natives have some of the highest rates of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and alcohol-related problems. They also exhibit higher rates of alcohol-attributable motor vehicle crash fatality, suicide, and falls compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Native Americans of both genders have the highest prevalence of weekly heavy drinking.
In contrast, Asian Americans have been found to be less affected by alcohol use disorder and exhibit lower rates of alcohol-attributable injuries. Asian-American women, in particular, have the lowest rates of weekly and daily heavy drinking.
Hispanics have been found to have disproportionately high rates of alcohol positivity and intoxication relative to their estimates of alcohol use. They also have higher rates of heavy episodic drinking (HED), with the prevalence of HED among Hispanics being slightly higher than that of American Indians in the 2012/2013 NESARC-III survey. Hispanic men have the highest prevalence of daily heavy drinking.
Differences in alcoholism rates are also observed within racial and ethnic groups, particularly among Hispanics, Asian Americans, and American Indians/Alaska Natives. Research has also shown that acculturation to the United States and nativity affect drinking patterns.
While Black subgroups have higher rates of alcohol positivity than expected, the disparity in alcohol-attributable injury mortality among Black and Hispanic groups relative to their reported rates of alcohol consumption requires further research.
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Alcoholism rates by age
Alcoholism, or Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), is a significant issue in the United States, affecting people of all ages. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 28.9 million people aged 12 and older (10.2% of this age group) suffered from AUD in the past year. This includes:
Youths aged 12-17
The NSDUH 2023 report reveals that 757,000 youths aged 12 to 17 (2.9% of this age group) had AUD in the past year. This includes 270,000 boys (2.0% of boys in this age group) and 487,000 girls (3.8% of girls in this age group). The report also indicates that 5.6 million youths in this age group (21.6%) reported drinking alcohol at some point in their lifetime, with 141,000 (0.5%) reporting heavy alcohol use in the past month.
Adults aged 18 and older
For adults aged 18 and over, the NSDUH 2023 reports that 16.3 million (6.3% of this age group) engaged in heavy alcohol use in the past month. Additionally, 218.7 million adults in this age group (84.9%) reported drinking alcohol at some point in their lifetime.
All ages (12 and older)
Across all age groups, the NSDUH 2023 survey found that 224.3 million people aged 12 and older (79.1% of this age group) had consumed alcohol at some point in their lifetime. This includes 111.1 million males (80.1% of males in this age group) and 113.2 million females (78.1% of females in this age group). Furthermore, 16.4 million people in this age bracket (5.8%) reported heavy alcohol use in the past month.
These statistics highlight the prevalence of alcohol consumption and AUD across different age groups in the United States. The high percentage of individuals with AUD and those engaging in heavy alcohol use underscores the significant impact of alcoholism in the country.
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Alcoholism rates by state
Alcoholism rates in the United States vary by state and are influenced by a range of factors, including cultural norms, socioeconomic status, and access to health resources. Here is an overview of alcoholism rates across different states:
New Hampshire
New Hampshire consistently ranks as the state with the highest per capita alcohol consumption in the United States. In 2021, the average person in New Hampshire consumed 59.5 gallons of alcohol per year, which is more than double the national average. New Hampshire also has high rates of binge drinking, with 20.9% of adults over 18 binge drinking at least once per month.
Southern States
Southern states, such as California, Texas, and Florida, have the highest number of alcohol-related deaths among individuals under 21. Alabama, a southern state, has the third-highest rate of under-21 deaths related to excessive alcohol use. These statistics highlight the prevalence of underage drinking and its severe consequences in these regions.
Utah
Utah stands out for having the lowest rate of alcohol consumption in the nation. It is one of the few states where less than 19% of residents over the age of 21 report binge drinking in the past 30 days. Utah also has the lowest per capita alcohol consumption, with only 17.7 gallons consumed per person.
Fittest States
Interestingly, some of the fittest states in the nation, as determined by access to exercise and healthy behaviors, also have high rates of binge drinking. For example, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Colorado, which are among the top quarter of fittest states, also fall within the top quarter for alcohol consumption. This discrepancy suggests that physical fitness and alcohol consumption patterns may not always be directly correlated.
Arizona
Arizona has witnessed a concerning increase in alcohol-related deaths. From 2015 to 2019, the five-year average annual rate of excessive alcohol deaths per capita in Arizona rose by 40.9%. Additionally, 68.3% of those deaths were male, and 59.2% were attributed to chronic causes, such as Alcohol Use Disorder.
Hawaii
Hawaii has a relatively low death rate from excessive alcohol use, but it stands out for having the highest prevalence of alcohol-related deaths among males in the United States. The median number of drinks per binge in Hawaii is 5.7, and binge drinking adults in Hawaii binge a median of 1.9 times per month.
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Alcoholism rates by socioeconomic status
Alcoholism rates in the United States are influenced by a range of factors, including socioeconomic status (SES). Socioeconomic status is a significant determinant of alcohol use and related outcomes. While individuals with low socioeconomic status are often stigmatized as having the highest rates of alcohol consumption, multiple studies have revealed a more complex relationship.
Research indicates that people with higher socioeconomic status may consume similar or even greater amounts of alcohol than those with lower socioeconomic status. A 2016 study found a positive association between individual socioeconomic status and drinking status, suggesting that higher income is linked to increased alcohol consumption. This can be attributed to factors such as greater financial access to alcohol and a higher frequency of social activities that involve drinking among high-income earners.
However, the relationship between socioeconomic status and alcohol consumption is not linear. It follows an inverted bell curve pattern, with high socioeconomic status associated with higher overall consumption and frequency, while low socioeconomic status is linked to adverse alcohol outcomes such as binge drinking, alcohol abuse, and alcohol dependence. This disparity in alcohol-related harm despite similar or lower consumption among low SES individuals is known as the "alcohol-harm paradox."
The alcohol-harm paradox highlights that individuals with low socioeconomic status experience disproportionately greater alcohol-attributable health harm. A meta-analysis from 2015 revealed that individuals with low SES have a two-to-five-fold higher risk of dying from alcohol-related causes compared to those with high SES. This disparity in alcohol-attributable mortality is even more pronounced than the gap observed in all-cause mortality between the two groups.
The reasons underlying the alcohol-harm paradox remain unclear, but several factors may contribute to it. Firstly, individuals with low SES often have limited access to quality healthcare, making it more difficult for them to address alcohol-related health issues effectively. Secondly, stress and adverse life events, such as financial instability, bereavement, residential changes, and divorce, are more prevalent and severe among low SES individuals, increasing their risk of alcohol-related harm. Additionally, among people of lower SES, members of marginalized communities, such as racial minorities and homeless individuals, experience even greater alcohol-related consequences.
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Frequently asked questions
According to a 2021 study, one in eight American adults, or 12.7% of the population, meets the diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD). This rate rose by 49% in the first decade of the 2000s.
It is difficult to determine how the rate of alcoholism has changed over time due to discrepancies between different surveys. While one study found that the rate of AUD increased by 49% in the first decade of the 2000s, another federal survey, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), reported that AUD rates have been lower and falling since 2002.
The rate of alcoholism varies across different demographics in the United States. According to the 2021 study, the rate of AUD was higher among men (16.7%), Native Americans (16.6%), people below the poverty threshold (14.3%), and people living in the Midwest (14.8%). Additionally, nearly 1 in 4 adults under the age of 30 (23.4%) met the diagnostic criteria for AUD.
I cannot find a direct comparison of alcoholism rates between the United States and other countries. However, it is worth noting that the United States has one of the highest alcohol-related death rates globally, with an estimated 88,000 deaths per year attributed to alcohol.
