“States’ decisions about whether to expand their Medicaid programs have had stark implications for their uninsured rates,” the authors wrote in their report. In the United States alone, there are roughly 261 alcohol-related deaths everyday. More people are experimenting with cutting back, with movements like “dry January” and alcohol-free mocktails becoming mainstream. “It’s a great time for people to explore alternative ways of being social—even for people without AUD.
The immediate consumption of alcohol does not always cause alcohol deaths. Aside from deaths related to vehicular accidents or overdoses, there are other ways that alcohol can affect your health and eventually kill you. New Mexico has the third-highest number of alcohol-related deaths per capita among all the states; it’s 23.4% higher than Alaska’s per capita death rate, which is the nation’s second-highest. Nevada’s alcohol-related death rate per capita is high, but it has a very low rate of underage deaths. Statistics indicate that Illinois may have a significant underage drinking problem though its under-21 death rate has declined in recent years.
Alcohol Related Deaths by Age
A popular misconception is that addiction is a result of low willpower. But an explosion of knowledge and technology in the field of molecular genetics has changed our basic understanding of addiction drastically over the past decade. The general consensus among scientists and health care professionals is that there is a strong neurobiological and genetic basis for addiction.
Besides AA, other mutual-help programs, such as SMART Recovery, have been gaining ground. Multiple medications have also been approved to treat alcohol dependence, by reducing cravings or triggering unpleasant side effects if a person drinks. There is a wide range of overdose death rates among the states; the highest concentration is located in the Northeast, straddling the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Deaths from Excessive Alcohol Use in the United States
Even though alcohol is a legal substance, it is just as dangerous as any illegal street drug you may encounter, which is easy to see when you compare alcohol deaths vs other drugs. It is hard to go a day without passing a bar or seeing alcohol at a restaurant. South Dakota has an elevated rate of alcohol-related alcohol vs drugs deaths per capita and a high rate of under-21 deaths. The rate of alcohol-related deaths per capita is very high in Oklahoma. North Carolina has a low rate of alcohol-related deaths per capita and a low rate of under-21 deaths. Montana has a very high rate of alcohol-related deaths per capita.
- Alongside the opioid overdose crisis, another hidden epidemic is quietly raging.
- When battling a life-threatening addiction, it is not alcohol versus other drugs but alcohol versus you.
- A large body of research also shows a strong genetic component for AUD.
Overall, the data show that from 2000 to 2017, drug poisoning, suicide, and alcohol caused 1.45 million premature deaths—450,000 more deaths than would be expected from 2000 rates. In 2019, 30 states had alcohol-related death rates in the double digits compared to 2006 when only 10 states had alcohol-related deaths in the double digits. The highest death rates tend to be found in the western part of the United States. Psychologists and other health professionals can also advocate for policies that reduce risky drinking. “Fear-based programs that try to scare people away from drinking aren’t effective. Some states are considering policies such as reducing the density of stores that can sell alcohol in a given area, restricting advertising by the alcohol industry, or raising taxes on alcohol sales.
