Alcohol Addiction: a Public Health Crisis for Americans

Clinically Reviewed by Matt Hawk ICAADC, CACII

Is alcohol addiction a significant public health issue for Americans?

In a word, yes.

For instance, according to a 2022 survey of Americans ages 12 and older:

137.4 million people, or 44.5% of those surveyed, reported drinking in the past month alone

Of those, 61.2 million people, or 21.7% of those surveyed, reported binge drinking

16.1 million or 5.7% of those surveyed reported heavy drinking

And that’s not all. Further data and analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found:

Deaths involving alcohol increased by 24.4% between 2019 and 2020

In 2022, 32% of all driving fatalities were the result of alcohol-impaired driving

According to the most recent data available, excessive alcohol use is now responsible for 178,000 deaths a year, with nearly one-third of these deaths due to binge drinking.

For the individual, the health consequences due to excessive alcohol use are one of the leading causes of preventable death. Every year, thousands die from alcohol-related causes, making it the third leading cause of preventable death in the country. Long-term alcohol use is associated with a wide range of health problems, which include liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and increased risk of cancer.

For the family and community, the consequences of alcohol use contribute to a range of social problems. Domestic violence, poverty, and homelessness all have associations with alcohol use, not to mention the actual monetary cost due to loss of productivity in the workforce.

We can have a detached point of view as we look at these numbers and facts. But these are not just numbers on a screen. These are not distant facts. One-third of Americans drink excessively. An estimated 1 out of 8 are struggling with alcohol addiction. One of these “numbers” is likely someone you know.

These numbers represent actual human beings: people who had hopes and dreams of doing something good with their lives and people whose families, friends, and loved ones were devastated by the loss.

And if those human beings could speak for themselves right now, what would they say? What would they do if they had another chance to do it differently? Did that last drink solve anything, or were the problems only worse the next morning?

As they say, hindsight is 20/20. As recent studies have pointed out, no amount of alcohol is good for you. This leads to an important question: Is alcohol consumption worth it? Are the potential consequences of addiction, poverty, and health worth a night out on the town? Does its use as a “social lubrication,” an effect that is related to many of the other issues, such as drunk driving and domestic abuse really justify the high cost to individuals, their families, and society?

Narconon centers around the world have been addressing this problem from both ends—prevention efforts through raising awareness and offering effective holistic rehabilitation services to those who are suffering from addiction for over 57 years. The results-based comprehensive program has helped tens of thousands of individuals start the road to recovery from alcohol addiction while addressing the underlying physical symptoms that can result in cravings that perpetuate the myth that addiction is a disease from which no one can recover.

Instead, Narconon program graduates leave the center armed with life skills and tools to build a new life with their families and a renewed purpose to help improve their communities.

There is hope and a road out.