Compared to 2016 and 2017, deaths in the U.S. from excessive alcohol use increased by 29% in 2020 and 2021, according to data recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“About 178,000 people die from excessive alcohol use in the U.S. each year,” said the centers. That’s equivalent to around 488 deaths per day.
Overall, excessive drinking shortened the lives of those who died by an average of 23 years. Adults over age 35 and men were more likely to die from excessive alcohol use.
According to Gallup poll results from last summer, 62% of adults under age 35 said they drink. That’s down 10% compared to 20 years ago. While younger adults were less likely to drink to excess, drinking increased among adults age 55 and older.
“Excessive drinking is a leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and it is also costly,” said the CDC. “It cost the nation $249 billion in 2010.”
As the CDC explained, excessive drinking deaths aren’t always sudden, though around one third (61,000) result from single episodes of drinking such as vehicle crashes, alcohol poisoning and suicide. They’re often the result of conditions that develop over time, such as cancer, heart disease and liver disease.
Audacy reported in 2022 that study results published in the Lancet journal found men and women should have less than 4 ounces of alcohol daily to avoid health risks.
“Choose not to drink or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day (if you’re a man) and 1 drink or less in a day (if you’re a woman), on days when alcohol is consumed,” said the CDC. Some people should not drink any alcohol, including pregnant people, people who might be pregnant, people younger than 21 years old, people with certain medical conditions and people recovering from alcohol use disorder.
In addition to actions individuals can take to prevent the negative impact of drinking alcohol, the CDC provided recommendations for states and communities. These included increasing the price of alcoholic beverages, regulating access to alcohol and more.
Resources for people dealing with substance abuse issues are available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration hotline, 1-800-622-HELP.