11/25/2024
Alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a significant public health issue in the United States.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), approximately 14.5 million adults (ages 18 and older) had alcohol use disorder in 2019.
In 2020, about 29.3% of people aged 18 to 24 reported binge drinking in the past month, with 8.3% engaging in heavy alcohol use.
Men are more likely than women to experience alcohol use disorder, with about 9.0% of men and 3.6% of women diagnosed with alcohol use disorder in 2019.
The average age of first alcohol use is around 17 years, and early onset is associated with a higher risk of developing alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol contributes to more than 95,000 deaths annually in the U.S., making it one of the leading preventable causes of death.
The economic cost of excessive alcohol consumption in the U.S. is estimated to be over $249 billion annually, including healthcare expenses, lost productivity, and law enforcement costs.
In 2020, about 7.9% of adults with alcohol use disorder received treatment, highlighting a significant gap in access to care.
These statistics underscore the importance of awareness, prevention, and treatment initiatives to address alcohol use disorder in the U.S.
