Vivian Marlowe
Alcohol-related fatalities are a significant public health concern, with excessive alcohol consumption being a leading preventable cause of death in the United States. The national average for alcohol-related deaths varies across different demographic groups and states. Overall, the national alcohol death rate has risen by 70% in the past decade, with about 178,000 people dying from excessive drinking each year. This includes deaths from chronic conditions caused by long-term alcohol use, such as liver disease and alcohol use disorder, as well as fatalities from drunk driving and alcohol-related injuries. While drunk driving fatalities have been on a decline since 1991, they still account for a significant number of preventable deaths, with about 30% of traffic crash fatalities involving drunk drivers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| National average for alcohol-related fatalities | 10.4 deaths per 100,000 people |
| States with highest alcohol-related death rates | New Mexico (34.3), Indiana (10.4) |
| States with lowest alcohol-related death rates | Hawaii (5.9), Indiana (10.4) |
| Racial groups with highest rates | American Indians/Alaskan Natives, White/Caucasians |
| Average annual number of deaths from excessive alcohol use | 178,000 (120,000 males, 59,000 females) |
| Alcohol-related deaths during COVID-19 pandemic | 99,017 in 2020 (a 25.5% increase from 2019) |
| Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities | 13,524 in 2022 (32% of overall driving fatalities) |
| Alcohol-related fatalities among youth | 4,000 deaths annually among those under 21 |
| Alcohol-related fatalities among motorcyclists | 26% of fatal crashes involved alcohol-impaired operators in 2023 |
| Alcohol-related fatalities among repeat offenders | 6 times more likely to have prior convictions for driving while impaired |
| Alcohol-related fatalities among children | 25% of children (14 and younger) killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2023 |
| Alcohol-related chronic conditions | Liver disease, heart disease, cancer, alcohol use disorder |
| Alcohol-induced conditions | Alcoholic liver disease, hypertension, alcohol dependence syndrome, alcoholic psychosis, cardiomyopathy |
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What You'll Learn
Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities
Motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes have the highest percentage (26%) of alcohol-impaired drivers among all vehicle types. In 2023, the 35-39 and 45-49 age groups had the highest percentage (34% each) of drunk motorcycle riders killed. Additionally, repeat offenders who drink and drive remain a significant problem, with a higher likelihood of prior convictions for driving while impaired.
Young people are also at risk, with drunk driving being a leading cause of death for teens. In 2023, 30% of young drivers aged 15 to 20 who were killed in crashes had blood alcohol content (BAC) levels above the legal limit. Furthermore, among children aged 14 and younger who died in motor vehicle crashes, 25% were killed in drunk-driving incidents, with over half of those children riding in the vehicle driven by the drunk driver.
To address this issue, all states have adopted a minimum legal drinking age of 21, and these laws have been credited with saving lives. Additionally, implementing comprehensive strategies, such as evidence-based alcohol policies that reduce alcohol availability and increase prices, can help discourage excessive alcohol consumption and reduce alcohol-related fatalities.
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Alcohol-related chronic conditions
Alcohol consumption is a significant contributor to the burden of chronic diseases and conditions globally. It is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and alcohol-related mortality is on the rise. Alcohol-related chronic conditions develop from drinking alcohol over time and can have detrimental impacts on various organs and body systems.
Heavy drinking over a long period can lead to chronic alcohol-related problems such as liver disease, pancreatitis, GI bleeding, and alcohol withdrawal, which accounts for many emergency department visits and deaths in the U.S. each year. Alcohol is also a known carcinogen, increasing the risk of numerous cancers, including those of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, colon, rectum, liver, and female breast. The risk of breast cancer increases even with less than one drink per day.
Alcohol consumption also has a detrimental impact on cardiovascular health, contributing to conditions such as hypertension, arrhythmias, and ischemic cardiovascular diseases. It can exacerbate pain sensitivity and interfere with pain management, creating a cycle where patients with chronic pain self-medicate with alcohol, only to find their pain sensitivity heightened.
Additionally, alcohol consumption can have beneficial and detrimental effects on diabetes and ischemic stroke, depending on the overall volume consumed and, in the case of ischemic diseases, consumption patterns. It also plays a component-risk role in neuropsychiatric conditions and numerous digestive diseases.
The average volume of alcohol consumed, consumption patterns, and quality of alcoholic beverages consumed all impact the mortality and morbidity related to chronic diseases and conditions. Alcohol-related chronic conditions are a significant public health concern, and addressing excessive alcohol consumption is essential for preventing these conditions and reducing the associated morbidity and mortality.
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Alcohol-induced conditions
Alcohol misuse can have both immediate and long-term effects on the body and is one of the leading preventable causes of death in the United States. Alcohol-related deaths have increased across all age groups, including around 4,000 deaths per year among young people under the age of 21.
Alcohol use disorder (AUD), also known as alcoholism, is a common condition characterised by the inability to stop drinking despite negative consequences on health, safety, and personal relationships. AUD can range from mild to severe and is treatable through medication and behavioural therapy. AUD is the second most common mental disorder among people who die by suicide, involved in roughly 1 in 4 deaths by suicide.
Chronic alcohol misuse can lead to the development of several types of cancer, including breast cancer in women, as well as heart disease, liver disease, and alcohol use disorder. Binge drinking or excessive drinking on a single occasion can result in motor vehicle crashes, alcohol-involved drug overdoses, alcohol poisoning, and suicide. Alcohol poisoning occurs when high levels of alcohol shut down areas of the brain that control vital functions such as breathing and heart rate, and is most common in middle-aged men.
Specific alcohol-induced conditions include:
- Alcoholic liver disease: Alcoholic liver disease is a major cause of alcohol-related deaths, claiming the lives of approximately 18,164 people annually in the United States.
- Hypertension: Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to high blood pressure, affecting approximately 3,584 people annually.
- Alcohol dependence syndrome: Around 4,258 people die annually from alcohol dependence syndrome, a condition characterised by physical dependence on alcohol.
- Alcoholic psychosis: Alcoholic psychosis is a condition where alcohol misuse leads to psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions. Approximately 703 people die from this condition annually.
- Alcoholic cardiomyopathy: Excessive alcohol consumption can cause heart muscle damage, resulting in about 510 deaths per year.
- Alcohol-induced pancreatitis: About 330 people die annually from alcohol-induced inflammation of the pancreas.
- Nervous system degeneration: Alcohol misuse can lead to degeneration of the nervous system, causing approximately 145 deaths per year.
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Alcohol-related emergency department visits
Between 2006 and 2014, the rate of alcohol-related emergency department visits surged by 47%, translating to an additional 210,000 visits annually. This trend continued, and in 2020, it was estimated that alcohol played a role in at least 7.1% of emergency department visits. The pandemic saw a sharp rise in alcohol-related emergencies, with the number of visits increasing by 25.5% from 2019 to 2020, during the initial year of the pandemic.
Alcohol-related emergencies can encompass a range of conditions and acute causes, including injuries, vehicle crashes, drug overdoses, alcohol poisoning, and suicide attempts. The availability of alcohol and the ease of access, particularly during the pandemic when alcohol sales were deemed essential, have contributed to the rise in alcohol-related emergencies. Additionally, mental health issues and challenges in accessing healthcare have also played a role in this increase.
Excessive alcohol consumption is a leading preventable cause of death in the United States, claiming the lives of approximately 178,000 people each year. This includes deaths from chronic conditions that develop over time due to drinking, such as liver disease, heart disease, and alcohol use disorder, as well as binge drinking or excessive consumption on a single occasion. The increase in alcohol-related emergencies and fatalities underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to address alcohol misuse and improve access to treatment for alcohol use disorders.
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Alcohol-related deaths by state
Alcohol-related deaths have been on the rise in the United States. In 2019, there were 980 drunk driving fatalities recorded among people under the age of 21. Alcohol is also the number one substance tied to homicides, with alcohol-related homicides often occurring due to negligence or sustained aggravated assault resulting in murder.
American Indians and Alaskan Natives have the highest rates of alcohol-related deaths, with a death rate of 50.5 per 100,000 people in 2019, up from 30.8 in 2006. White/Caucasians have the second-highest rate, with 11.1 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019, up from 6.9 in 2006. The death rate for the Hispanic community increased from 9.2 to 10.6 per 100,000 people during the same period, while the rate for the Black community rose from 6.2 to 7.5. For Asians and Pacific Islanders, the death rate increased from 1.9 to 2.4 per 100,000 people.
In 2019, 30 states had alcohol-related death rates in the double digits, with New Mexico having the highest rate at 34.3 deaths per 100,000 people. Hawaii had the lowest rate at 5.9 deaths per 100,000 people. Indiana shared the same death rate as the overall national average of 10.4.
Alcohol-related deaths occur due to both long-term health effects from drinking and binge drinking or drinking too much on one occasion. Chronic conditions caused by excessive alcohol consumption include cancer, liver disease, and heart disease. Binge drinking can lead to motor vehicle crashes, alcohol-involved drug overdoses, alcohol poisoning, and suicides.
According to the CDC, there were 99,017 alcohol-related deaths among people ages 16 and older in 2020, a 25.5% increase from 2019. In 2021, this number increased further to 108,791, before decreasing to 105,415 in 2022. Overall, excessive alcohol use leads to approximately 178,000 deaths in the United States each year, making it one of the leading preventable causes of death.
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Frequently asked questions
The national average for alcohol-related fatalities is around 178,000 per year.
In 2023, 12,429 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. On average, over a 10-year period from 2014 to 2023, about 11,000 people died every year in drunk-driving crashes.
American Indians/Alaskan Natives have the highest rates of alcohol-related deaths, followed by White/Caucasians. The death rates for AIAN people are about five times higher than those of White people.
The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to a sharp rise in alcohol-related fatalities. During the early pandemic years, the biggest increase in alcohol-related deaths was observed from 2019 to 2020.
