CDC. US: More
than 2,200 people die from alcohol poisoning each year in the United
States – an average of six deaths each day – according to a new Vital Signs report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Three
in four alcohol poisoning deaths involve adults ages 35-64 years, and
most deaths occur among men and non-Hispanic whites. American
Indians/Alaska Natives have the most alcohol poisoning deaths per
million people.
Alcohol poisoning deaths are caused by drinking a
large amount of alcohol in a short period of time. This can result in
very high levels of alcohol in the body, which can shutdown critical
areas of the brain that control breathing, heart rate, and body
temperature - resulting in death.
More than 38 million U.S. adults
report binge drinking an average of four times per month and consume an
average of eight drinks per binge. Binge drinking is defined as
consuming four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men
on an occasion. The more you drink, the greater your risk of death.
“Alcohol
poisoning deaths are a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers of
excessive alcohol use, which is a leading cause of preventable deaths in
the U.S.” said CDC Principal Deputy Director Ileana Arias, Ph.D. “We
need to implement effective programs and policies to prevent binge
drinking and the many health and social harms that are related to it,
including deaths from alcohol poisoning.”
Alcohol poisoning death
rates varied widely across states, from 46.5 deaths per million
residents in Alaska to 5.3 per million residents in Alabama. The states
with the highest death rates were in the Great Plains, western United
States, and New England.
CDC scientists analyzed deaths from
alcohol poisoning among people aged 15 years and older, using multiple
cause-of-death data from the National Vital Statistics System for
2010-2012. Alcohol dependence (alcoholism) was identified as a
contributing factor in 30 percent of these deaths, and other drugs were
noted to have been a factor in about 3 percent of the deaths. While this
study reveals that alcohol poisoning deaths are a bigger problem than
previously thought, it is still likely to be an underestimate.
“This
study shows that alcohol poisoning deaths are not just a problem among
young people,” said CDC Alcohol Program Lead and report coauthor Robert
Brewer, M.D., M.S.P.H. “It also emphasizes the importance of taking a
comprehensive approach to reducing binge drinking that includes
evidence-based community strategies, screening and counseling in
healthcare settings, and high-quality substance abuse treatment for
those who need it.”