Lead Story: Estimated Deaths Attributable to Excessive Alcohol Use Among US Adults Aged 20 to 64 Years, 2015 to 2019

Estimated Deaths Attributable to Excessive Alcohol Use Among US Adults Aged 20 to 64 Years, 2015 to 2019 

JAMA Network Open 

This cross-sectional study sought to estimate the mean annual number of deaths from excessive alcohol use relative to total deaths among adults 20 to 64 years of age. Alcohol-attributable deaths accounted for an estimated 20.3% of total deaths among adults 20 to 49 years of age. By state, alcohol-attributable deaths ranged from 9.3% of total deaths in Mississippi to a high of 21.7% in New Mexico. Findings suggest that alcohol-attributable deaths were responsible for 1 in 8 deaths among adults 20 to 64 years of age, and 1 in 5 deaths among adults 20 to 49 years of age. The authors suggest that these death rates could be reduced with increased implementation of evidence-based policies, such as increasing alcohol taxes or regulating alcohol outlet density.

 

Read this issue of the ASAM Weekly

Subscribe to the ASAM Weekly

Visit ASAM