Noah Vinter
Alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are significant global issues, with an estimated 400 million people aged 15 and older living with alcohol use disorders and 209 million living with alcohol dependence. Alcohol consumption is a causal factor in over 200 diseases, injuries, and health conditions, and it is linked to 3 million deaths annually. While global per capita drinking quantities have averaged around 8 to 9 liters per year, the COVID-19 lockdowns saw a rise in alcohol consumption, with online liquor sales increasing by 262% in the first three weeks of March 2020. The latest data from 2023 in the United States shows that 10.2% of people aged 12 and older had AUD in the past year, with 2.9% of those aged 12 to 17 also struggling with AUD.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people aged 15 and older with alcohol use disorders globally | 400 million |
| Number of people with alcohol dependence globally | 209 million |
| Number of alcohol-attributable deaths per 100,000 people (decrease from 2010 to 2019) | 20.2% |
| Number of Americans aged 12 and older with Alcohol Use Disorder in 2020 | 10.2% |
| Number of Americans aged 18 and older who reported binge drinking in the last 30 days in 2020 | 24% |
| Number of Americans who die each day due to excessive alcohol use | 385 |
| Number of sexual assaults among American college students involving alcohol each year | 97,000 |
| Number of annual deaths attributable to alcohol abuse in the US | 100,000 |
| Number of Americans aged 12 and older who received treatment for alcohol use disorder in 2023 | 4.5 million |
| Number of youth aged 12 to 17 with Alcohol Use Disorder in the past year | 757,000 |
| Number of Americans aged 18 and older who had at least one heavy drinking day in the past year (2018) | 25.1% |
| Number of alcohol-induced deaths among adults aged 25 and older in urban and rural areas from 2000 to 2018 | Not specified |
| Number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases caused by alcohol consumption in 2019 | 474,000 |
| Number of people who die from alcohol-related causes annually | 88,000 |
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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% of 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 757,000 youths aged 12 to 17 (2.9% in this age group) had AUD in the past year.
The 2019 NSDUH estimated that 14.5 million people aged 12 and older had AUD. According to the same data, an estimated 414,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 had AUD. The 2019 NSDUH also found that 25.8% of people aged 18 and older reported binge drinking in the past month. Binge drinking was reported by 29.7% of men and 22.2% of women in this age group.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines AUD as having symptoms of two or more diagnostic criteria within a 12-month period. The diagnostic criteria assess behaviours such as trying to stop drinking but being unable to, alcohol cravings, and the extent to which drinking interferes with an individual's life. AUD can be mild (meeting two or three criteria), moderate (meeting four or five criteria), or severe (meeting six or more criteria).
Alcohol is one of the most commonly used substances in the US. According to the 2023 NSDUH, 224.3 million people aged 12 and older (79.1% in this age group) reported drinking alcohol at some point in their lifetime. This includes 111.1 million males (80.1%) and 113.2 million females (78.1%). The NSDUH also found that 177.3 million people aged 12 and older (62.5%) reported drinking in the past year.
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. That's an average of 261 deaths per day. The CDC also reports that alcohol-related deaths increased from 35,914 in 1999 to 72,558 in 2017. In 2019, the CDC reported that the number of deaths due to alcoholic liver disease was 24,110, while the number of alcohol-induced deaths, not including accidents and homicides, was 39,043.
Excessive alcohol use is common in the US. In 2022, of the 137 million Americans who reported drinking in the last 30 days, 45% reported binge drinking. Such excessive drinking is associated with health problems such as injuries, alcohol poisoning, cardiovascular conditions, mental health problems, and certain cancers.
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Alcohol-induced deaths
Alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) kill over 3 million people annually, accounting for 5-6% of global deaths. This figure has increased by 70% in the past decade, with 51,191 alcohol-induced deaths in 2022 in the United States alone. Alcohol-induced deaths are caused by conditions directly attributable to alcohol consumption, such as liver diseases, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, alcohol dependence syndrome, alcoholic psychosis, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, and alcohol-induced pancreatitis. Alcohol poisoning is another leading cause of alcohol-related deaths, with middle-aged men and White people being the most affected.
In the United States, 10.2% of people aged 12 years and older (approximately 28.9 million individuals) suffered from AUD in 2020, with the number rising to 28.9 million in 2023. This includes 16.8 million males, 12.0 million females, 156,000 American Indian or Alaska Native people, 994,000 Asian people, 3.3 million Black or African Americans, 88,000 Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, 18.7 million White people, 841,000 people of two or more races, and 4.8 million Hispanic or Latino people. Notably, 757,000 youths aged 12 to 17 (2.9% in this age group) had AUD in 2023, with 487,000 of them being girls.
The incidence of diseases and fatalities stemming from alcohol consumption is increasing annually. Alcohol-induced liver damage is a significant concern, with alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis cases in the United States increasing by 43% over seven years. The pathogenesis of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) involves various pathological processes, including oxidative stress, abnormal lipid metabolism, endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. ALD is a leading cause of alcohol-related deaths, and its incidence is second only to hepatitis B cases in China, affecting 62 million people.
The impact of alcohol abuse extends beyond physical health issues. In the United States, drunk driving fatalities have been on a downward trend since 1991, with 2019 seeing the lowest number of deaths since record-keeping began in 1982. However, alcohol is still the number one substance linked to homicides. Additionally, each year, 97,000 sexual assaults among American college students involve alcohol. The financial impact of alcohol abuse is also significant, with Alabama taxpayers, for example, spending the equivalent of $5.028 billion or $3.06 per drink in 2022 due to excessive alcohol use.
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Alcohol consumption during COVID-19 lockdowns
Alcohol consumption increased during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Online liquor sales rose 262% year-over-year (YoY) in the first three weeks of March 2020, coinciding with most state-wide lockdowns. Liquor store sales increased 54% YoY during that same period. In April 2020, YoY alcohol sales were up 234%. According to a Johns Hopkins-University of Maryland-Baltimore survey, 60.1% of participants reported drinking more alcohol after March 1, 2020. Of these, 34.1% reported binge drinking at least once, and 7.0% reported extreme binge drinking.
The World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concern about the increase in alcohol consumption during lockdowns. According to the WHO, drinking alcohol compromises the immune system and increases the risk of adverse health outcomes, making people more vulnerable to COVID-19. The WHO called on governments to restrict access to alcohol during lockdowns and recommended that people limit their alcohol intake.
The increase in alcohol consumption during the pandemic may have had a significant impact on public health. Alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are associated with various negative consequences, including injury, aggression, and disease. Alcohol abuse kills over 3 million people worldwide each year, and alcoholic liver disease is the leading cause of alcohol-related deaths. In the United States, 6.7% of adults will develop Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), and in 2020, 10.2% of Americans aged 12 and older had AUD. The pandemic and quarantines of 2020 may have exacerbated these trends, and the statistics from this period may not fully reflect the extent of alcohol abuse.
The COVID-19 lockdowns had a significant impact on alcohol consumption, with many people reporting increased drinking. The reasons for this vary, but increased stress, boredom, and alcohol availability may have all played a role. The pandemic and resulting quarantines may have negatively affected mental health and well-being, contributing to higher alcohol consumption. Additionally, the social and economic consequences of the pandemic may have exacerbated existing alcohol abuse problems or created new ones.
The full extent of the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns on alcohol consumption and related health issues may not be fully known for some time. However, the available data suggests that the pandemic and resulting restrictions may have had a detrimental effect on alcohol abuse and alcoholism rates. The long-term consequences of this are yet to be fully understood.
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Alcohol-related sexual assaults
Alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a pervasive issue, with 10.2% of Americans aged 12 and older suffering from it in 2020. This equates to 28.9 million people in this age group having AUD in the past year, according to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The issue is particularly prominent among young people, with 757,000 youth aged 12 to 17 (2.9% of this age group) suffering from AUD in the past year.
Alcohol is a significant factor in many sexual assaults. Research shows that 30% of all sexual assaults and 75% of sexual assaults on college campuses occur when the perpetrator is under the influence of alcohol. In many of these cases, the victim is also intoxicated. Alcohol impairs judgment and reduces inhibitions, making it easier for perpetrators to ignore sexual boundaries and increasing the difficulty for victims to guard against an attack.
The relationship between alcohol and sexual assault is complex. Alcohol can play a role in the aftermath of sexual assault, even if the assault did not occur while the victim was drinking. Victims may turn to alcohol to cope with the trauma, leading to problem drinking and an increased risk of revictimization. The expectation that alcohol will have certain effects can also increase the risk of sexual assault. For example, a woman may drink excessively to experience the anticipated benefits of drinking or because she believes alcohol makes her more vulnerable and less able to resist.
Additionally, societal attitudes towards alcohol-involved sexual assaults often blame the victim for being intoxicated, affecting how they are treated by authorities and professionals. This internalized blame can lead to reticence in reporting crimes and seeking help. It is crucial to emphasize that alcohol does not cause sexual violence, and responsibility lies solely with the perpetrator.
To address these issues, a multi-pronged approach is necessary. This includes educating men about the inappropriateness of using alcohol to obtain sex and the consequences of their actions, as well as challenging societal attitudes that blame victims. Furthermore, risk reduction and treatment efforts should focus on helping women understand how alcohol can affect both risk perception and resistance.
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Alcohol-related deaths in Alaska
Alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) kill over 3 million people annually, accounting for 6% of global deaths. Alcoholism is a pressing issue in Alaska, with the state having the second-highest number of alcohol-related deaths per capita in the United States.
An average of 433 deaths in Alaska each year are attributable to excessive alcohol consumption. This figure represents a significant increase from previous years, with the 5-year average annual rate of excessive alcohol-related deaths per capita rising by 45% from 2015 to 2019. Binge drinking is prevalent in Alaska, with 16% of adults over 18 engaging in binge drinking at least once per month. The median number of drinks consumed during a binge is 5.4, with the most active 25% of drinkers consuming a median of 7.1 drinks. Binge drinking adults in Alaska binge a median of 1.9 times per month, while the most active 25% binge 4.4 times per month.
Alaska Natives, in particular, face significant challenges with alcohol abuse, with unusually high rates of drinking and related health problems. Between 1980 and 1987, Alaska ranked fifth among 11 Indian Health Service sites for alcohol-related illnesses, including liver cirrhosis, delirium tremens, and pancreatitis. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is also a serious issue, with a rate of 5.2 cases per 1,000 births among Alaska Natives, significantly higher than the national average. In 1994, 39% of pregnant Alaska Native women were estimated to be at risk of delivering a baby prenatally exposed to alcohol or other drugs.
Suicide is another critical aspect of alcohol-related deaths in Alaska. The state has consistently exceeded national suicide rates for over 20 years, with alcohol playing a significant role. During the period of 1983-1984, the percentage of suicides related to alcohol in Alaska was almost double the national average, and this percentage was notably higher among Alaska Natives compared to non-Natives.
While the exact number of new cases of alcoholism reported each year in Alaska is unclear, the high prevalence of alcohol-related deaths and the significant impact on Alaska Natives underscore the severity of the issue in the state.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear how many new cases of alcoholism are reported each year, but according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 28.9 million people aged 12 and older (10.2% in this age group) had Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in 2023. This includes 757,000 youth aged 12 to 17 (2.9% in this age group).
Alcohol consumption has a causal impact on more than 200 health conditions, including liver disease, heart disease, and different types of cancers. Alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and AUD kill over 3 million people each year, accounting for up to 6% of global deaths.
The proportion of deaths attributed to alcohol consumption varies across different countries and regions. For example, it is lower in North Africa and the Middle East and much higher in Eastern Europe. When looking at national averages, there is no distinct relationship between income and alcohol consumption. However, within specific countries, there may be a correlation between income and alcohol consumption.
