Alcohol-Related Deaths
Studies have shown that the number of Americans dying from alcohol-related complications every year more than doubled from 1999 to 2017. Researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism gauged an increase from 16.9 per 100,000 to 25.5. A year later, in 2018, more than 26 percent of people over the age of 18 reported binge drinking within a month of being interviewed.
Is this overall increase in alcohol-related deaths a sign of something bigger? After more than two decades, is there any chance of us turning it around? Join us, today, for a closer look.
Over A Decade In Decline
By 2017, deaths involving alcohol in the US accounted for roughly 3% of 3 million. Of those deaths, nearly half as a direct result of either liver disease or alcohol overdose, either alone or in combination with various other drugs. This number doubled from 35,914 to 72,558 between 1999 and 2016.
Putting it in plane terms, from 1999 to 2017, U.S. mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics shows nearly almost 1 million alcohol-related deaths.
And researchers suspect these numbers may be undershooting, as well, because death certificates often fail to fully account for alcohol in a death. By way of an example, it’s been shown that only one-in-six drunk driving deaths is reported as alcohol-related due to various unrelated factors.
Alcoholism In Men
Statistically, men are twice as likely to binge drink as women, which can lead to a variety of potential problems. Men in 2018 were nearly twice as likely as women to have been intoxicated behind the wheel. They were also more likely to commit suicide while under the influence. And nearly 10% of these same men met the technical criteria for alcohol dependence.
Alcohol also increases your overall risk of mouth, throat, liver and colon cancer. Where abuse doesn’t lead to accidents or overdose, the impact of long term diseases is often devastating.
The Bigger Problem
The overall problem is that American citizens are drinking more, with an increase of roughly 8% per capita since the turn of century. Roughly 70% of adults reported drinking an average of just over two drinks a day in 2017. And the results speak for themselves. People admitted to the emergency room for alcohol-related deaths and injuries skyrocketed by 47.3% from 2006 to 2014.
The Good News
Alcohol related deaths are a preventable complication. Rehabilitation, abstinence, therapy and other treatments are difficult personal journeys. They are also completely viable and have been shown to help prevent these deaths.
Drinking is a choice many people make casually and can be done in moderation. But, for somebody prone to abusing alcohol, it’s a risk factor that just isn’t worth it to men or women.
If you or a loved one are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, Serenity Springs is a top-rated Florida recovery center and addiction rehabilitation center. Visit us, today, or check out some of our other insightful blog posts for everything you need to know about making it through your addiction.
