10 Important Alcohol Abuse Statistics
It can be really easy to continue drinking without giving much thought to the habit. On one hand, addiction tends to override rational inhibitions, leaving you unaware of the inherent dangers. On the other hand, a key symptom of addiction is denial. You may simply not let yourself think about the risks you are running.
However, it is an indisputable fact that excessive drinking, alcohol abuse, and alcohol addiction each place the user’s health at risk. It also causes personal problems, costs the nation billions, and leads to early death. The data that follows will back up these claims.
If you are misusing alcohol, the time to open your eyes is now. You deserve to be honest with yourself and part of that honesty may be admitting that you need help stopping your use. If you need treatment, get it. Don’t be ashamed.
DrugAddiction.org can help you. Our caring representatives can answer your questions, walk you through funding options, and recommend treatment options that will meet your needs. All you have to do it call 888-414-2380 (Who Answers?) and speak with someone as soon as possible. Don’t wait.
1. There Are a Lot of Alcoholics in the US
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports 16.3 million adults above age 18 (6.8 percent of all people who fall into this age group) were recorded as having an alcohol use disorder in 2014
2. Men Are More Likely to Have an Alcohol Use Disorder Than Women
Of the 16.3 million people with alcohol use disorders, the NIAAA states, 10.6 million of them were men (9.2 percent of men over age 18) and 5.7 million were women (4.6 percent of women over age 18).
3. Alcohol Abuse Takes a Large Economic Toll
Men are more likely than women to have an alcohol use disorder.
In 2010, according to the NIAAA, alcohol misuse cost America 249 billion dollars. Of this large cost, three-quarters is related to binge drinking. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates the cost to be 224 billion dollars.
4. Underage drinking actually leads to death
The NIAAA states “4,358 people under age 21 die each year from alcohol-related car crashes, homicides, suicides, alcohol poisoning, and other injuries such as falls, burns, and drowning.” Literally, every one of these deaths could have been avoided by taking alcohol out of the equation.
5. Heavy drinking is more prevalent than you think
Over 24 percent of adults age 18 and older report having at least one heavy drinking day in the past year. Heavy drinking is considered five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women). If you have a pattern of heavy drinking, the health consequences you face are much higher than the average adult faces.
6. Drunk Driving Injuries Happen Frequently
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration alerts readers a person is injured in a drunk driving crash every two minutes. That’s 30 injuries every hour of every day.
7. You Are More Likely to Be Involved in a Drunk Driving Crash Than to Not Be
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also reports two in three people will be involved in a drunk driving crash in their life.
8. College Students Are at Risk of Alcohol Related Sexual Assault
The NIAAA’s page on college drinking notes over 97 thousand students ranging from 18 to 24 years of age are victims of date rape or alcohol-related sexual assault. Often, the risk of sexual battery isn’t discussed, but it is a reality for the many victims.
9. Abusing Alcohol Takes Years off of Your Life
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states heavy alcohol use led to roughly 88 thousand deaths between 2006 and 2010. They estimate this is 2.5 million years of potential life lost. Those who died faced a 30 year shortening of their lives, on average.
10. Working Aged Men Are Most at Risk of Alcohol Related Death
According to statistics offered by the CDC, almost 70 percent of excessive drinking deaths concerned working-age adults, and roughly 70 percent of the deaths involved males.
If you are ready to stop abusing alcohol, we can help. Call DrugAddiction.org at 888-414-2380 (Who Answers?) and speak to someone today. We look forward to hearing from you.
