Written By: Fiona Stockard

Alcohol Addiction Facts and Statistics

Alcohol is the most abused drug on the planet! This leads to a world of misunderstanding when it comes to the effects of alcoholism. Find some true alcohol addiction facts and statistics below.

Alcohol Addiction Facts

Here are seven alcohol addiction facts –

• Nearly fourteen million Americans, or one in thirteen, abuse alcohol or are alcoholics.

• Close to twenty million Americans engage in binge and heavy drinking.

• Binge drinking is defined as: having five or more drinks in one sitting (for men), and having four or more drinks in one sitting (for women).

• Heavy drinking is defined as: having fifteen or more drinks per week (for men), and having eight or more drinks per week (for women).

• Alcoholism doesn’t have a single cause. It’s a complex mixture of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors.

• There’s also no test that indicates alcoholism. Medical professionals diagnose on a case-by-case basis. They do this by using medical and family histories, and bio-psychosocial examinations.

• Alcohol abuse is a risk factor for many types of cancer, including: breast, esophagus, larynx, liver, mouth, and pharynx.

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Alcohol Addiction Statistics

Here are eight alcohol addiction statistics –

• In 2006 alone, alcohol abuse cost the United States 223.5 billion dollars.

• In 2012, 24% percent of adults reported engaging in binge drinking during the past month. 7.1% reported engaging in heavy drinking during the past month.

• Also in 2012, almost one and a half million adults received treatment for alcohol abuse. This breaks down to one million men and 416,000 women.

• Nearly 90,000 people die from alcohol related causes each year. This makes alcoholism the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States.

•8% of all emergency room visits are related to alcohol use.

•33% of all suicides and suicide attempts are related to alcohol misuse.

• Approximately 17% of men and 8% of women will be dependent on alcohol at some point during their lifetime.

• Up to 40% of all hospital beds in the U.S. are used to treat alcohol related health conditions (this excludes hospital beds used for maternity or intensive care purposes).

Did science just discover a cure for alcoholism?

What Do These Alcohol Addiction Facts and Statistics Mean For You?

These facts and statistics mean a few different things. First, they clearly show the scope of alcoholism in the United States. We have a huge problem! There are a ton of reasons for this, but that’s a whole other article.

These facts and statistics show that alcoholism has a devastating effect on people’s lives. A lot of people drink, and because of this drinking, a lot of people suffer major complications. These run the gambit from medical complications, to addiction issues, to car crashes, to lost money, to death.

Finally, these facts and statistics show that something needs to be done! Alcoholism has been a vice of men and women since we were living in caves. This isn’t likely to change anytime soon. Simply put, we need more treatment centers, and for everyone to have access to these treatment centers, to combat the popularity of alcohol.

Alcoholism is a progressive and deadly disease, therefore successful treatment must be just as progressive and specialized. Fortunately, Lighthouse Recovery Institute takes this idea to heart.

We offer Gender-Specific Addiction Treatment, so our patients can focus on what’s important while in treatment and begin living healthy and successful lives.

Call Lighthouse today at 1-844-I-CAN-CHANGE or 1-(561)-381-0015 to learn more about the importance of gender-specific substance abuse treatment.

Lighthouse Recovery Institute: Guiding You to a Brighter Tomorrow