Reports show that, since 2019, alcohol-related health problems and deaths have increased in the US. Excessive alcohol consumption can, directly and indirectly, affect an individual’s health and well-being in many ways and can contribute to the development of many health issues that may be fatal.[1]
Types of health problems associated with alcohol
Alcohol consumption is associated with hundreds of health issues. Some are caused directly by excessive alcohol use, while others can become increasingly more likely with prolonged and heavy alcohol use. Common health issues caused by alcohol include:[2][3]
- Liver disease
- Hepatitis
- Hypertensive disorder
- Heart diseases
- Cancer
- Dementia
- Pancreatitis
- Neuropathy
- Mental and behavioral disorders
- Alcohol use disorder
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) affects 10.5% of the US population and involves excessive and uncontrolled alcohol consumption and alcohol dependence.[4]
Often, AUD occurs alongside other mental health issues, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and bipolar disorder, which can increase the risk of harmful effects.[5]
US drinking statistics
Data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System shows the following statistics:[6]
- In the last 30 days, over half of US adults drank alcohol
- In the last 30 days, around 17% of US adults engaged in binge drinking
States with the highest percentage of binge drinkers:[6]
- Montana: 24%
- North Dakota: 23.9%
- Iowa: 23.2%
States with the lowest percentage of binge drinkers:[6]
- Utah: 12.7%
- Alabama: 13.7%
- Kentucky: 14%
Data from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows that:
- The age group most likely to drink are those in their early to mid-20s
- The age group most likely to heavy drink are those in their 20s and 30s
- Binge drinking is more common in men than women
US alcohol-related death statistics
From 2019 to 2020, alcohol-related deaths increased 25.5% and increased another 10% the following year.[2]
Between 2020 and 2021, the number of deaths in the US from excessive drinking and alcohol-related causes was reported to be 178,307, which equates to around 488 deaths per day. This figure significantly increased from 2016-2017, when 137,927 alcohol-related deaths were reported.[1]
The most common causes of alcohol-related deaths are chronic diseases including liver disease and cardiovascular diseases. Alcohol-related liver disease was attributed to over 30,000 deaths in 2020, up from just over 13,000 in 2000.[1][3]
Alcohol-related deaths can also include accidents and injuries, including car crashes, violence, and self-harm. For example:[2][7]
- A quarter of all people who die by suicide have a diagnosed alcohol use disorder
- Car accident fatalities involving alcohol increased by 14% in 2020
Why is drinking increasing?
Alcohol consumption reportedly began increasing slightly before 2019, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, between 2019 and 2021, consumption increased significantly. During this time, sales per capita increased more within two years than they have since 1969, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. [3][8]
Alcohol consumption is thought to have increased during the pandemic for several reasons, such as: [1]
- Using alcohol to cope with negative feelings such as loneliness, isolation, boredom, stress, and anxiety
- Increased accessibility of alcohol due to changes in licensing laws, including alcohol available to order online and be delivered to the home
- Delays or unavailability of healthcare resources for treatable alcohol-related conditions
Support and treatment
If you are worried about your own or someone else’s alcohol consumption, you may wish to seek professional support. Learn more about available treatment options with Recovered.
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