Alcohol and adults: 1 in 8 deaths

It is estimated that 140,00 Americans die each year from alcohol related causes.

The number of fatalities attributable to tobacco use as well as opioid poisoning has overshadowed the issue of misuse of alcohol.

An estimated one in eight deaths of Americans ages 20 to 64 in the years 2015-19 was the result of injuries or illness caused by excessive alcohol use, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The researchers analyzed data from the nation’s vital records and identified deaths due to excessive alcohol use over the five-year period. Some causes of death, such as alcoholic liver disease, could be wholly attributable to excess drinking. For other causes of death, like cancers related to drinking or injuries where intoxication was a known risk factor, the researchers estimated the share of fatalities due to excessive alcohol use based on surveyed drinking behavior and sales in various populations.” (Ted Alcorn, New York Times 11/1/22).

“This is really affecting adults in the prime of their life,” said Marissa Esser, a co-author of the study.

As alcohol-related deaths are occurring at a high rate for working-age adults, this results in a significant impact on economic productivity.