A Highly Disconcerting Statistic Reveals Alcohol-Related Deaths Among U.S. Citizens on the Rise
The rate of alcohol-induced deaths in the United States has shown a concerning increase over the past two decades, according to a recent study published in the journal PLOS Global Health.
Researchers analysing data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that alcoholic liver disease was the leading cause of alcohol-related deaths, with more than 178,000 deaths linked to excessive alcohol use occurring every year. Mental and behavioral conditions caused by alcohol were the second leading cause.
The overall rate of alcohol-related deaths rose 89% between 1999 and 2024, with the single deadliest year being 2021, which saw 54,258 reported deaths. The male-to-female mortality ratio decreased from three-to-one in 1999 to two-to-one in 2024, but women aged 25-34 experienced the single largest increase in the death rate of any demographic during the study period.
Men in the age group 25-34 also saw an increase in the death rate, but at a lower rate compared to women. Interestingly, the American Indian and Alaskan Native populations were found to be at particular risk.
The rate of alcohol poisoning deaths remained low throughout the study period. By 2024, deaths had begun to level off, but the average alcohol-induced death rate was still 25% higher than it was in 2019.
The authors of the study wrote that there is an urgent need for targeted policies to reduce excessive alcohol consumption and improve access to treatment. They highlighted the need for a better understanding of the socioeconomic factors linked to excessive alcohol consumption and targeted prevention and treatment efforts, particularly for males, youth, and the American Indian/Alaska Native population.
The authors also noted an especially sharp uptick in alcohol-related deaths during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. More work needs to be done to figure out how best to prevent these deaths and improve public health outcomes related to alcohol consumption in the U.S.
