Noah Vinter
Alcohol abuse and misuse are significant issues in the United States, with alcoholism affecting a notable portion of the population. A 2017 study published in the Washington Post revealed that one in eight American adults is an alcoholic, with higher rates among men, Native Americans, individuals below the poverty line, and Midwesterners. This study also found that almost 25% of adults under 30 met the diagnostic criteria for alcoholism. While these numbers are startling, it's important to consider the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to increased alcohol consumption among over half of Americans.
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What You'll Learn
Alcohol use disorder rates
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a prevalent issue in the United States, with varying rates across different demographic groups. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 28.9 million people aged 12 and older (10.2%) had AUD in the past year. This includes 16.8 million males (12.1%) and 12 million females (8.3%). The rate is higher among certain racial and ethnic groups, with 156,000 American Indian or Alaska Native people (11.6%) and 994,000 Asian people (5.7%) affected by AUD. Additionally, 3.3 million Black or African Americans (9.6%) and 18.7 million White people (11.0%) suffered from AUD in the same period.
Among youth aged 12 to 17, 757,000 individuals (2.9%) had AUD in the past year. This includes 270,000 boys (2.0%) and 487,000 girls (3.8%). The rate of AUD among youth varies across racial and ethnic groups, with 5,000 American Indian or Alaska Native youth (2.3%) and 15,000 Asian youth (1.0%) affected. During the same period, 46,000 Black or African American youth (1.3%) and 438,000 White youth (3.4%) suffered from AUD.
It is worth noting that the NSDUH estimates for 2023 are comparable to the estimates from 2022 and updated 2021 estimates. However, the 2021-2023 estimates differ from the estimates for 2020 and prior years. The NSDUH has shown a decreasing trend in alcohol use disorder rates since 2002, which contradicts the findings of other studies that suggest an increase in alcoholism.
The impact of alcohol abuse extends beyond the individuals suffering from AUD. In Georgia, for example, taxpayers spent $6.931 billion due to excessive alcohol use in 2010, which adjusts to $9.357 billion or $2.86 per drink in 2022. Additionally, alcohol-induced deaths contribute significantly to the overall death rate, with alcohol causing 10% of deaths among 15- to 49-year-olds and 13.5% of deaths among 20- to 39-year-olds. The CDC estimates that excessive alcohol use results in a loss of 104,946 years of potential life each year in Georgia alone.
Overall, the United States faces a significant challenge in addressing alcohol use disorder, with a considerable number of individuals suffering from AUD and a non-negligible impact on society as a whole.
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Alcohol-related deaths
Alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are significant problems in the United States, with a large proportion of the population consuming alcohol. Alcohol-related deaths have been rising in the country, with an almost 2.0-fold increase in alcohol-related mortality from 1999 to 2020. The mortality rate increased from 10.7 per 100,000 people in 1999 to 21.6 per 100,000 in 2020, with certain demographic groups and geographic regions experiencing disproportionate rises.
In 2020, there were 48,870 alcohol-related deaths in the United States, with approximately 120,000 male deaths and 59,000 female deaths annually, according to the Alcohol-Related Disease Impact application. This makes alcohol one of the leading preventable causes of death in the country. Worldwide, up to 3 million people die each year due to alcohol abuse, with alcohol-related deaths accounting for 5.3% to 6.0% of global deaths.
Alcohol plays a significant role in emergency department visits and deaths from opioid overdoses. In 2020, it was estimated that alcohol was a factor in 7.1% of emergency department visits and 17.4% of deaths from opioid overdoses. The rate of alcohol-related emergency department visits increased by 47% between 2006 and 2014, translating to an average annual increase of 210,000 visits.
The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns also had a notable impact on alcohol consumption in the United States. Online liquor sales surged 262% year-over-year in the first three weeks of March 2020, coinciding with most state-wide lockdowns. Over half of Americans reported increased alcohol consumption during this period.
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Alcohol consumption by age group
Alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are prevalent in the United States, with varying rates across different age groups. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 224.3 million people aged 12 and older (79.1% in this age group) reported ever drinking alcohol in their lifetime. This includes 111.1 million males (80.1%) and 113.2 million females (78.1%). Among youth aged 12 to 17, 5.6 million (21.6%) reported lifetime alcohol use, with higher rates among girls (24.1%) than boys (19.1%).
When it comes to alcohol use disorder (AUD), the 2023 NSDUH estimates 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%). Among youth aged 12 to 17, 757,000 (2.9%) had AUD in the past year, with higher rates among girls (3.8%) than boys (2.0%).
The transition from adolescence to young adulthood is a critical period for alcohol consumption and AUD. While the legal drinking age in the United States is 21, many young people initiate alcohol use earlier. According to the NSDUH, 31.1% of those aged 18 to 20 were current alcohol users in 2023. The highest rate of current alcohol drinking and binge drinking was observed among those aged 26 to 29, with nearly 61% in this age group reporting current alcohol use. Binge drinking, defined as consuming five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women on one occasion, is most prevalent among young adults in their 20s.
It's important to note that alcohol consumption and AUD rates vary across different demographic characteristics, including race and ethnicity. For example, among youth aged 12 to 17, the prevalence of lifetime alcohol use ranges from 12.0% among Asian youth to 24.0% among White youth. Additionally, females aged 12 to 17 are 61.5% more likely to have AUD than their male peers, and children in this age group living with a single parent are more likely to live with an alcoholic father than an alcoholic mother.
While the focus here is on age groups, it's worth mentioning that overall, alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and AUD have significant impacts in the United States. Alcohol-related deaths account for at least 5.3% of all deaths globally, and alcohol causes 10% of deaths among 15- to 49-year-olds and 13.5% of deaths among 20- to 39-year-olds. In the United States, alcohol abuse results in a substantial loss of potential life, with 385 deaths attributed to excessive alcohol use every day.
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Alcohol consumption by gender
Alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorder (AUD) have claimed the lives of over 3 million people annually, accounting for 5.3% to 6% of global deaths. Alcohol is responsible for 10% of fatalities among 15- to 49-year-olds and 13.5% of deaths among 20- to 39-year-olds. Alcohol-related deaths are more common among men than women, with men facing three times the risk of dying from alcohol abuse. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for 7.1% of diseases among males and 2.2% among females.
In the United States, alcohol consumption and its associated problems have historically been more prevalent among men than women. However, this gender gap has been narrowing over the years. An analysis of national surveys between 2000 and 2016 revealed that while the number of women aged 18 and older who drank each year increased by 6%, there was a slight decrease of 0.2% for men. Additionally, the number of women who engaged in binge drinking rose by 14%, compared to only a 0.5% increase for men.
The 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) provides insights into alcohol consumption patterns among different age groups and genders in the US. According to the survey, 224.3 million people aged 12 and older (79.1% in this age group) reported ever consuming alcohol. This includes 111.1 million males (80.1%) and 113.2 million females (78.1%). Among adolescents aged 12 to 17, 5.6 million (21.6%) reported drinking alcohol at some point, with 2.5 million boys (19.1%) and 3.1 million girls (24.1%) within this group.
When it comes to alcohol use disorder (AUD), the 2023 NSDUH estimates that 28.9 million people aged 12 and older (10.2%) had AUD in the past year. Of these, 16.8 million were males (12.1%) and 12 million were females (8.3%). Among youth aged 12 to 17, 757,000 (2.9%) had AUD, including 270,000 boys (2.0%) and 487,000 girls (3.8%).
While men generally exhibit higher rates of alcohol consumption and related issues, the gender gap is narrowing, especially among adolescents and older adults. Binge drinking and alcohol consumption have declined significantly among adolescents since the turn of the millennium, with larger decreases observed for young males compared to young females. In contrast, increases in alcohol use and binge drinking among adults aged 50 and older have been more pronounced for women than for men.
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Alcohol consumption by race
Alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorder (AUD) vary across different racial and ethnic groups in the United States. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 224.3 million people aged 12 and older reported drinking alcohol at some point in their lives. This includes:
- 111.1 million males aged 12 and older (80.1%)
- 113.2 million females aged 12 and older (78.1%)
- 890,000 American Indian or Alaska Native people aged 12 and older (66.5%)
- 10.9 million Asian people aged 12 and older (62.2%)
- 19.8 million Black or African American people aged 12 and older (this number is not specified in the source, but it can be calculated by subtracting the numbers of all other races from the total of 224.3 million)
The survey also found that 28.9 million people aged 12 and older had AUD in the past year, including:
- 16.8 million males aged 12 and older (12.1%)
- 12.0 million females aged 12 and older (8.3%)
- 156,000 American Indian or Alaska Native people aged 12 and older (11.6%)
- 994,000 Asian people aged 12 and older (5.7%)
- 3.3 million Black or African American people aged 12 and older (9.6%)
It is important to note that the NSDUH did not provide estimates for Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander people due to the small number of respondents in this category.
Research suggests that alcohol consumption and AUD rates differ among racial and ethnic groups. For example, existing literature indicates that Black and Hispanic youth are less likely than non-Hispanic White youth to use alcohol. Similarly, national surveys show variations in drinking patterns and AUD prevalence across different ethnicities.
Culture, religion, race, social circles, socioeconomic status, and home environment can all influence an individual's relationship with alcohol. Specialized programs that cater to specific demographics, such as gender or race, can be beneficial in addressing addiction treatment needs within diverse communities.
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Frequently asked questions
According to a 2017 study, one in eight American adults is an alcoholic. This is supported by a 2020 statistic that states 6.7% of Americans will develop Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), which equates to around one in every 15 people.
In 2018, two-thirds of adults aged 18 and over consumed alcohol in the past year. This equates to 52.8% of adults.
In 2020, 24% of people aged 18 and older reported binge drinking in the last 30 days. In 2018, 25.1% of adults had at least one heavy drinking day in the past year.
Binge drinking is defined as the average consumption of more than 7 drinks per week for women and more than 14 drinks per week for men in the past year.
