Noah Vinter
Alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a prevalent issue in the United States, with millions of people affected. Alcohol abuse and misuse have significant impacts on individuals, families, and society as a whole. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) provides key insights into the prevalence of alcoholism in the US. According to the 2023 NSDUH, an estimated 28.9 million people aged 12 and older struggled with AUD in the past year, including adolescents and adults from various demographic groups. The economic cost of excessive alcohol use is substantial, with billions of dollars lost in workplace productivity, medical expenses, criminal justice, and motor vehicle collisions. Alcohol-related deaths are on the rise, and excessive drinking is a leading preventable cause of death in the country. The COVID-19 pandemic also influenced alcohol consumption, with many Americans reporting increased drinking during lockdowns. This generated a unique set of challenges, impacting public health, mental well-being, and social dynamics.
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What You'll Learn
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the US
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a clinical diagnosis of alcoholism or alcohol addiction. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 28.9 million people aged 12 and older (10.2% in this age group) had AUD in the past year. This includes 16.8 million males (12.1% of males aged 12 and older) and 12 million females (8.3% of females aged 12 and older).
The NSDUH report also found that 16.4 million people aged 12 and older (5.8% in this age group) reported heavy alcohol use in the past month. This includes 9.8 million males (7.1% of males aged 12 and older) and 6.6 million females (4.5% of females aged 12 and older). Furthermore, 141,000 youths aged 12 to 17 (0.5% in this age group) reported heavy alcohol use in the past month, with a fairly even split between boys and girls.
The economic cost of excessive alcohol use in the US is significant. In 2010, the cost was estimated to be around $29 billion, with $179 billion in workplace productivity losses, $28 billion in medical costs, $25 billion in criminal justice costs, and $13 billion in motor vehicle collisions. By 2022, the cost had increased, with New Hampshire taxpayers spending $959.9 million as a result of excessive alcohol use, which is equivalent to $1.296 billion or $1.24 per drink.
Alcohol is a significant cause of death in the US. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 95,000 people die every year due to alcohol-related causes, with alcohol-related deaths increasing from 35,914 in 1999 to 72,558 in 2017. Alcohol-induced deaths, not including accidents and homicides, were 39,043 in 2019. Alcohol use disorder and alcohol poisoning are fully related to alcohol, meaning these deaths would not have occurred without alcohol. Other conditions, such as cancer, heart disease, and stroke, are partly related to alcohol, and so are only counted as alcohol-related deaths if alcohol is a causative factor.
The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns have also had a significant impact on alcohol consumption in the US. Online liquor sales rose 262% year-over-year in the first three weeks of March 2020, coinciding with most state-wide lockdowns. Liquor store sales increased 54% year-over-year during the same period. In April 2020, year-over-year alcohol sales were up 234%. Over half of Americans increased their alcohol consumption during this time, with 60.1% of participants in a Johns Hopkins-University of Maryland-Baltimore survey reporting drinking more alcohol after March 1, 2020.
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Alcoholism among youth
Alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a serious issue in the United States, affecting millions of people each year. While the condition can develop at any age, there is a particular concern for youth alcoholism, which can have severe and long-lasting consequences.
The legal drinking age in the US is 21, one of the highest drinking ages in the world. This is to discourage reckless alcohol consumption by youth, as studies have shown that alcohol is a leading cause of death among young people. Despite this, underage drinking is common, and youth alcoholism is a significant problem. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 141,000 youths aged 12-17 (0.5% of this age group) reported heavy alcohol use in the past month. This included 71,000 boys and 70,000 girls, as well as a disproportionate number of American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, and Hispanic/Latino youth.
Rural youths, including those from racial minority backgrounds, are also at an increased risk for alcohol misuse. A 2017 study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that community-based and individual-level prevention strategies can effectively reduce alcohol use among these populations. The study, conducted in collaboration with the Cherokee Nation, implemented two distinct strategies: Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA), a community-organizing intervention aimed at reducing underage access to alcohol, and a school-based intervention. The results showed that both interventions were effective in reducing alcohol use and its consequences, with no significant difference when the interventions were combined.
The earlier an individual starts drinking alcohol, the more likely they are to engage in harmful behaviours, such as using other drugs and having unprotected sex. Alcohol consumption among youth can also lead to academic problems, with a higher likelihood of earning poor grades. Additionally, one-third of all car accidents among adolescents are related to alcohol consumption. Binge drinking is also a concern, with 44% of college students reported to be binge drinkers, and this behaviour peaks at the age of 21.
Social media has also been identified as a contributing factor to youth alcoholism, with alcohol consumption being portrayed positively to target younger audiences and drive sales. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns also had a significant impact on alcohol consumption, with online liquor sales surging and many individuals reporting increased drinking habits.
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Alcoholism among adults
Alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a prevalent issue in the United States, affecting millions of people across different demographic groups. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) for 2023 reports that 28.9 million people aged 12 and older (10.2% in this age group) had AUD in the past year. This includes 16.8 million males (12.1%) and 12 million females (8.3%). The NSDUH also found that 16.4 million people aged 12 and older reported heavy alcohol use in the past month, with 16.3 million of them being adults aged 18 and older (6.3% in this age group).
The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns had a notable impact on alcohol consumption in the United States. Online liquor sales and liquor store sales increased significantly during this period, and over half of Americans reported an increase in their alcohol consumption. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has identified an emerging trend called "High-Intensity Drinking" (HID), which involves consuming alcohol at levels twice or more the gender-specific binge drinking thresholds. This trend has limited peer-reviewed studies due to its recent emergence.
Alcoholism and alcohol abuse also have indirect effects on the lives of children. Approximately 12.1% of children aged 17 and under live with at least one parent with alcohol use disorder, and among them, 18.7% reside in single-parent households. Children living with single parents are 47.6% more likely to live with an alcoholic father than a mother. Additionally, intoxicated adults are responsible for 150 child deaths annually, and among children living with substance-abusing parents, 86.2% have a parent who abuses alcohol.
Veterans are another demographic group where alcohol abuse is prevalent. The 2017 NSDUH reports that veterans were more likely to use alcohol than non-veterans (56.6% compared to 50.8% in a one-month period). They also reported higher rates of heavy alcohol use (7.5% vs 6.5%). When veterans enter substance abuse treatment programs, 65% of them identify alcohol as their primary substance of abuse.
Overall, alcoholism among adults in the United States is a significant issue with wide-ranging impacts on individuals, families, and society as a whole. It leads to preventable deaths, economic costs, and indirect effects on the well-being of children and vulnerable populations such as veterans.
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Alcoholism among veterans
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a prevalent issue in the United States, with 28.9 million people aged 12 and older (10.2% in this age group) affected in the past year. This includes 16.8 million males and 12 million females. The pandemic and lockdowns of 2020 significantly impacted alcohol consumption, with online liquor sales rising 262% year-over-year in the initial three weeks of March 2020. This increase in consumption has had a notable impact on veterans, a population already at heightened risk for alcohol misuse.
Veterans face unique challenges that can contribute to alcohol misuse and disorder. One significant factor is their exposure to traumatic events during their military service, including combat and death. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among veterans, and those with PTSD may turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism. Additionally, veterans may struggle with adjusting to civilian life after deployment, leading to alcohol misuse as a means of connecting with fellow service members or dealing with feelings of anxiety.
The culture within the military also plays a role in alcohol misuse among veterans. Drinking alcohol is often viewed as a way to bond with fellow service members, and many restaurants and bars offer discounts to service members, making alcohol more accessible and affordable. This normalization of drinking can lead to heavy drinking becoming the norm, with more than 20% of service members reporting heavy drinking, defined as consuming 8 or more drinks per week for women and 15 or more drinks per week for men.
The impact of alcohol misuse on veterans is profound and far-reaching. Veterans are more likely than non-veterans to drink heavily, and this can lead to a higher risk of suicide, with the suicide rate for veterans being significantly higher than for non-veteran adults in 2020. Alcohol misuse can also exacerbate or cause mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, and it can lead to negative interpersonal, legal, and professional consequences. Studies indicate that among veterans, alcohol use is associated with increased interpersonal violence, poorer health, and early death.
Veterans with a history of abuse, such as child physical or sexual abuse, are also at an increased risk of developing an alcohol use disorder. The process of seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder comes with its own set of challenges for veterans. Concerns about losing child custody, difficulty accessing services, fear of stigma, and worry about appearing weak can all deter veterans from seeking the professional help they need.
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Alcohol-related deaths
Alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) have severe consequences and can lead to premature death. Alcohol use disorder affects a significant number of Americans, with 28.9 million people aged 12 and older (10.2% of this age group) suffering from AUD in the past year. This includes 16.8 million males (12.1% of males aged 12 and older) and 12 million females (8.3% of females aged 12 and older).
On a national level, the United States experiences approximately 261 alcohol-related deaths per day, or 95,000 per year, with men accounting for 68,000 of these deaths. These deaths are often due to deteriorating health effects from long-term excessive drinking, including cancer, liver disease, and heart disease. Additionally, drunk driving fatalities account for a significant number of alcohol-related deaths, with 28-30 people losing their lives every day in accidents involving drunk driving.
When examining state-level data, New Mexico has the highest alcohol-related death rate at 34.3 deaths per 100,000 people. American Indians and Alaskan Natives have the highest rates of alcohol-related deaths among racial groups, followed by White/Caucasians. It is also worth noting that New Jersey, which has the second-lowest number of alcohol-related deaths per capita, still averages 3,008 annual deaths attributable to excessive alcohol use.
The consequences of alcohol abuse extend beyond physical health. Intoxicated adults are responsible for 150 child deaths each year, and among children living with substance-abusing parents, 86.2% live with a parent who abuses alcohol. Furthermore, alcohol is a contributing factor to suicide, which is one of the leading causes of death for people between the ages of 10 and 64.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that there are 28.9 million cases of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the US, for people aged 12 and older. This includes 16.8 million males and 12 million females.
Excessive alcohol use is a leading preventable cause of death in the US. It is estimated that 95,000 people die each year due to alcohol-related causes. This includes deaths from chronic conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and liver disease, which develop from drinking alcohol over time.
Alcohol is one of the most commonly used substances in the US. 85.6% of adults aged 18 and older have consumed alcohol at least once in their lifetime, with 69.5% reporting drinking in the past year, and 54.9% in the past month.
