Vivian Marlowe
Alcohol is one of the most widely consumed substances in the US, but it is also one of the most deadly. Alcohol-related deaths total around 3 million each year globally, with thousands of people under 21 dying from alcohol-related causes in the US alone. Alcohol-induced deaths have risen over the past two decades, with a sharp increase during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Alcohol misuse is a leading cause of preventable deaths in the US, contributing to 5.1% of total worldwide ailments. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism claim the lives of roughly 1,150 people in the US every year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of alcohol-related deaths globally each year | 3 million |
| Number of alcohol-related deaths in the US each year | 90,000+ |
| Number of alcohol-related deaths in the US among people over 14 each year | 9,909 |
| Number of alcohol-related deaths in the US among people over 14 due to alcohol poisoning each year | 2,221 |
| Number of alcohol-related deaths in the US due to liver disease each year | 2,940 |
| Number of alcohol-related deaths in the US due to alcohol abuse/alcoholism each year | 1,150 |
| Number of alcohol-related deaths in the US due to hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke each year | 418 |
| Number of alcohol-related deaths in the US due to high blood pressure each year | 321 |
| Number of alcohol-related deaths in the US due to cirrhosis each year | 26,000 |
| Number of alcohol-related deaths in the US due to drunk driving each year | 1,105 |
| Number of alcohol-related deaths in the US among women aged 35-44 each year | N/A |
| Percentage increase in alcohol-related deaths in the US from 2019 to 2020 | 26% |
| Percentage increase in alcohol-related deaths in the US in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic | 25% |
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What You'll Learn
Alcohol poisoning
Alcohol-related deaths total around 3 million each year globally, according to the World Health Organization. Alcohol-induced death rates have risen over the past two decades, with a sharp increase during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the United States, alcohol is one of the leading preventable causes of death, with an estimated 178,000 deaths attributable to excessive alcohol use each year.
The risk of alcohol overdose is also heightened when alcohol is consumed with certain medications, such as opioid pain relievers, sleep aids, anti-anxiety medications, or even over-the-counter antihistamines. Ingesting alcohol with these drugs intensifies their individual effects and increases the risk of overdose.
Symptoms of alcohol overdose include mental confusion, difficulty remaining conscious, vomiting, seizures, trouble breathing, slow heart rate, clammy skin, dulled responses (such as a loss of the gag reflex), and extremely low body temperature. Alcohol overdose can lead to permanent brain damage or death.
In addition to alcohol poisoning, excessive alcohol consumption over time can lead to various health issues, including liver disease, heart disease, and cancer. Liver disease caused by alcohol can progress to cirrhosis, a life-threatening condition that can cause other organs to shut down and lead to death.
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Liver disease
Alcohol-related deaths total around 3 million each year globally, according to the World Health Organization. Alcohol use is a known risk factor for mortality, and alcohol-induced death rates have risen over the past two decades. The COVID-19 pandemic saw a sharp increase in alcohol-induced deaths, with the largest overall annual increase occurring between 2019 and 2020, a rise of 26%.
Alcohol-related liver disease is now the leading indication for liver transplantation in the USA. The number of alcohol-related cirrhosis deaths started increasing again in the 2000s, and this trend is particularly noticeable in younger age groups (25-34 years). Excessive alcohol consumption remains the primary cause of alcohol-related liver disease and associated deaths.
Without substantial changes in drinking culture or interventions to address high-risk drinking, the burden of alcohol-related liver disease will continue to worsen. A modelling study projects that age-standardised deaths from alcohol-related liver disease will increase from 8.23 per 100,000 person-years in 2019 to 15.20 per 100,000 person-years in 2040. This translates to over 1 million projected deaths from alcohol-related liver disease between 2019 and 2040. However, with moderate or strong interventions, this number could be reduced by 35,300 or 299,100, respectively.
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Accidents
Alcohol is a contributing factor to a significant number of accidental deaths each year. While the exact figures vary depending on the source and the specific context, it is clear that alcohol-related accidents claim thousands of lives annually.
One of the most well-known and significant causes of alcohol-related accidental deaths is drunk driving. According to various sources, drunk driving is responsible for a substantial number of fatal crashes and traffic-related fatalities each year. In the United States, it is estimated that alcohol is a factor in around 28% of traffic-related deaths, with an average of 29 fatalities per day. This equates to nearly 11,000 fatal crashes annually, although some sources put the figure at over 10,000. Drunk driving accidents are more likely to occur at night and on weekends, and they are more prevalent among certain age groups, with 37% of traffic deaths among 16- to 20-year-olds being alcohol-related.
Alcohol-related accidents are not limited to drunk driving. Alcohol is also a factor in a significant number of falls, which can result in serious injuries and even death. In Wisconsin, for example, drunken falls were reported to cause more deaths than drunken driving. Additionally, alcohol can contribute to accidents involving other motorised vehicles besides automobiles, such as tractors or motorcycles.
The impact of alcohol on accident-related deaths extends beyond the individual. Passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists are also at risk of being involved in alcohol-related accidents, and in 2002, 37% of passenger deaths and 47% of pedestrian deaths were attributed to alcohol. Furthermore, alcohol can be a factor in domestic violence incidents, which claim over a thousand lives in the United States each year.
While the exact number of alcohol-related accidental deaths may vary, it is clear that alcohol contributes to a significant number of fatalities each year. These accidents not only impact those who consume alcohol but also innocent victims who may be affected by the actions of impaired individuals.
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Alcohol abuse
Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to various health issues over time, including liver disease, cancer, and heart disease. Alcoholic liver disease is the most common cause of chronic alcohol-related deaths, with around 2,940 Americans dying from this cause annually. Other long-term consequences include alcohol abuse and/or alcoholism, hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, and high blood pressure. Additionally, excessive alcohol consumption is associated with a 10% premature death rate among 15 to 49-year-olds.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted alcohol-related deaths, with a notable surge during the first year of the pandemic. From 2019 to 2020, alcohol-related fatalities increased by 26%, with a 42% increase among women aged 35 to 44. Overall, alcohol-related deaths are more prevalent among middle-aged adults, particularly in the 55 to 64 age group.
To address alcohol abuse and prevent alcohol-related deaths, it is crucial to seek help and support. Treatment programs and rehabilitation centers can provide effective strategies to establish long-term sobriety and address the underlying causes of dysfunctional alcohol use.
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Alcoholism
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted alcohol-related deaths, with a sharp increase of 26% between 2019 and 2020, and a 42% surge in deaths among women aged 35 to 44. Alcohol-induced deaths have been on the rise over the past two decades, and they can be classified into acute (or immediate) fatalities and chronic drinking-related deaths. Acute alcohol-related deaths include alcohol poisoning, which occurs when an individual consumes excessive alcohol, disrupting the normal functioning of the brain. Alcohol poisoning is responsible for approximately 2,221 deaths in Americans over the age of 14 each year, with men dying three times as often as women.
Chronic alcohol consumption has severe long-term health consequences, with alcohol-related liver disease being the single most common cause of death. This includes conditions such as fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a life-threatening condition that can lead to liver failure and the shutdown of other organs, causing up to 26,000 deaths each year. Other long-term health consequences include alcohol abuse and/or alcoholism, hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, and high blood pressure.
Alcohol misuse contributes to 5.1% of total worldwide ailments and causes 10% of all premature deaths among 15 to 49-year-olds. It is a major cause of preventable deaths in the US, with over half of alcohol-related deaths attributed to long-term health effects. Binge drinking, especially among those under the legal drinking age of 21, increases the risk of death from various causes, including driving under the influence, injuries, sexual assault, and violence. Additionally, alcohol affects proper brain development in teenagers.
To address the problem of alcoholism and reduce alcohol-related deaths, it is crucial to promote alcohol moderation and provide support for those struggling with alcohol abuse. Treatment programs, such as outpatient rehabilitation, offer therapy and group sessions to help individuals address the underlying causes of their dysfunctional alcohol use and establish long-term sobriety. By seeking help and taking steps to reduce alcohol consumption, individuals can lower their risk of alcohol-related health issues and premature death.
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Frequently asked questions
According to the World Health Organization, alcohol-related deaths total around 3 million each year globally. In the US, alcohol is the third-highest contributor to preventable fatalities, with over 90,000 deaths each year.
The single most common cause of acute alcohol-related death is accidents involving vehicles. Alcohol poisoning, or overdose, is another common cause of acute alcohol-related death. Chronic alcohol-related deaths are most often caused by alcohol-related liver disease, alcohol abuse, hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, and high blood pressure.
Avoiding heavy drinking is the best way to avoid alcohol-related deaths. If you are struggling with alcohol abuse or alcoholism, seeking help from a rehabilitation centre or treatment program can help address the underlying causes of dysfunctional alcohol use.
Alcohol-related deaths surged during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 26% increase between 2019 and 2020. This increase was especially pronounced among women, with a 42% surge in alcohol-related deaths among women aged 35 to 44.
