How Many People Die Annually From Alcohol Abuse In The U.S.?

Nearly everyone knows someone who abuses alcohol. Alcohol knows no boundaries; alcohol does not care where you live, what you do, or who you are.

Alcohol is the most socially accepted substance of abuse. Alcohol is available at bars, most stores, sporting events, and concerts. People “pre-game” by drinking alcohol before going out to drink more alcohol.

The economic costs of excessive alcohol use in the United States exceed $249 billion per year, or about $2.05 per drink consumed, according to the CDC.

The statistics surrounding alcohol abuse are incredibly alarming and almost completely preventable.

Terms Related To Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a brain disease that is characterized by the inability to stop consuming alcohol, even when drinking negatively impacts nearly all aspects of life. When a person receives an AUD diagnosis, they will also receive a subclassification of mild, moderate, or severe. The DSM-5 identifies 11 diagnostic criteria for AUD; meeting 2–3 indicates mild AUD, 4–5 indicates moderate, and 6 or more indicates severe.

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is the amount of alcohol in your blood due to alcohol consumption. BAC can be determined by a breathalyzer or blood test.

Binge Drinking: Defined by SAMHSA as consuming five or more drinks for men, or four or more drinks for women, on the same occasion. This pattern typically raises blood alcohol concentration to around 0.08 g/dL.

Heavy Drinking: This is binge drinking that occurs more than five days a month.

Statistics On Alcohol Abuse

Check out the facts below to learn the statistics on alcohol abuse and related deaths:

• 85 percent of adults ages 18 and older (approximately 222.8 million people) have consumed alcohol at some point in their lifetime
• Among the 134.3 million current alcohol users ages 12 and older, 57.9 million (43.1 percent) reported past-month binge drinking, and 16.3 million reported heavy alcohol use
• An estimated 1 in 4 American children under age 18 live with a parent or adult caregiver who meets criteria for a substance use disorder. Alcohol is the most common substance involved
• Approximately 22 percent of adults ages 21 and older reported past-month binge drinking, a 7.2 percent decline compared to 2023, suggesting prevention efforts may be having an effect
• An estimated 27.9 million people ages 12 and older (9.7 percent of this age group) had alcohol use disorder in the past year
• Among the 27.9 million people with AUD, only about 2.5 percent (697,000 people) received medication-assisted treatment
• Excessive alcohol use kills more than 178,000 Americans per year, a 29 percent increase from 2016

Females And Alcohol Abuse

Females who abuse alcohol are at high risk for a multitude of problems. Alcohol consumption lowers inhibitions, and a person may engage in behaviors and situations that are out of character for them, with significant negative consequences.

Regular excessive drinking can disrupt menstrual cycles and interfere with reproductive hormones. Research also indicates that women are more vulnerable to alcohol’s harmful effects than men at equivalent consumption levels. They develop liver disease faster, experience greater cognitive impairment, and face higher cardiovascular risks.

Alcohol is a factor in a significant share of sexual assaults on college campuses, not because victims are responsible, but because perpetrators exploit alcohol-induced impairment. The responsibility lies entirely with the perpetrator.

There is no known safe level of alcohol use during pregnancy. Alcohol use during pregnancy is the leading preventable cause of intellectual disability in the US. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) affect an estimated 1 to 5 percent of U.S. school-age children.

Males And Alcohol Abuse

Men engage in heavy and binge drinking at higher rates than women, though the gap has been narrowing. In 2024, heavy alcohol use was slightly more common among males (1.6 percent) than females (1.4 percent) in the 12-20 age group. Among adults, 11.8 percent of males ages 12 and older had AUD in the past year, compared to 7.6 percent of females.

The following list occurs more often in males than in females:

• Rates of suicide in men are higher than in women
• Males are involved in more drunk driving and fatal car accident incidents than women
• Males are typically more violent than females while drunk
• Males who abuse alcohol are at a higher risk of cancer

Teenage Alcohol Abuse

Underage drinking has declined to historic lows in recent years.

According to the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 21.3 percent of youth ages 12–17 reported ever drinking alcohol in their lifetime. Approximately 16.4 percent reported drinking in the past year, and 6.6 percent reported current (past-month) use.

While these trends are positive, early drinking still carries serious risks. Adults who had their first drink before age 15 are 6.5 times more likely to develop alcohol use disorder than those who waited until age 21.

Drinking at a young age significantly increases the risk of developing an AUD. The adolescent brain, particularly the prefrontal cortex, which governs impulse control and decision-making, doesn’t fully develop until age 25. This biological reality, and not a personal failing, makes young people more vulnerable to developing problematic drinking patterns and alcohol dependence.

Teens tend to engage in dangerous behaviors while drinking. Having unprotected sex, problems with authority or law enforcement, and using other drugs are only a couple of the risk factors associated with teen drinking.

Signs Of Alcohol Abuse

Because alcohol is socially accepted and available almost anywhere, it may be hard to recognize when a person is crossing the threshold into developing an AUD.

According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5th Edition), the following are some signs that a person may be struggling with an AUD:

• Drinking so much alcohol that they don’t remember what they said or did- called blacking out.
• Doing dangerous things while drunk, like driving a car or taking strangers home
• Issues with authorities
• Developing problems with responsibilities (work, school, relationships)
• Continuing to drink in spite of developing health issues related to drinking

Immediate Health Risks Due To Alcohol Abuse

When a person engages in excessive drinking, especially binge drinking, they tend to make poor decisions.

This can lead to several short-term risks, such as:

• Risky sexual activities, including sex with strangers, unprotected sex, or sex with more than one person at a time. Unintended pregnancies or STIs can result.
• Violent behaviors like sexual assault, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, homicide, and suicide
• Accidents like car crashes, burns, drownings, and falls.
• Birthing complications, miscarriage, stillbirths, or birth defects if the person is pregnant

Long-Term Risks Of Alcohol Abuse

Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol over a period of time can lead to diseases, conditions and other problems, including:

• Developing an AUD
• Cancer
• Memory issues
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Relationship issues
• Immune system impairment

Treatment for AUD

The best way to manage an alcohol use disorder is to seek the help of an addiction specialist or program. These individuals are experienced in treating substance abuse and addiction and can help you find your way to recovery.

Reach out to our placement specialists today and let them help you find a solution that works for you or your loved one.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff