Here are some key facts about alcohol abuse, backed by data and research:
Well-known facts:
Definition: A pattern of drinking that is detrimental to one's health, relationships, or ability to work
- How much is too much? It is defined by how many drinks per day and per week. The CDC considers 4 or more drinks in one setting for a woman, 5 or more for a man as binge drinking. Daily alcohol is considered moderate for a woman if one drink per day, men 2 drinks per day.
- It can develop into Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), a medical condition diagnosed when alcohol use becomes compulsive and uncontrolled. This name has replaced the term Alcoholic. Heavy drinking is considered 8 or more drinks per week for women, 15 or more for men.
Why it is a problem?
heavy drinking and binge drinking can cause:
falls
medication interactions
liver disease, possible liver cancer
heart disease
cancers
it is linked to 58 other diseases
contributes to 88,000 deaths annually
impaired judgement and brain function
plus it can destroy families
Statistics (Global and U.S.)
- Worldwide: Alcohol is responsible for 3 million deaths per year (about 5.3% of all deaths).
- United States:
- Around 29.5 million people aged 12+ had AUD in 2022 (SAMHSA).
- 1 in 10 deaths among working-age adults (20-64) is due to excessive alcohol use (CDC).
- 88,000 deaths annually in the U.S. are alcohol-related—more than drug overdoses.