By Amber Roman
01 Mar 2024, 1:06 PM EST
A recent study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed an alarming increase in alcohol-related deaths in the United States in recent years.
According to this report, approximately 500 Americans lost their lives every day in 2021 due to alcohol-related problems, representing an increase of almost 30 percent compared to previous years.
Data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond shows a continued increase in alcohol consumption, even after lockdowns were lifted in 2020. While the incidence of alcohol-related deaths was higher among men, The study highlighted a worrying increase in the mortality rate among women.
Dr. Michael Siegel, a professor of public health at Tufts University School of Medicine, commented on the study results, calling them “alarming.” According to him, these findings reflect a significant increase in alcohol-related deaths over the past six years, underscoring the seriousness of the problem.
The study revealed that alcohol-related deaths increased by 40,000 in just five years, with a total of approximately 178,000 deaths in 2021 due to excessive alcohol consumption, compared to 138,000 in 2016. During this period, deaths increased by 27 percent among men and 35 percent among women.
The increase in alcohol consumption during the pandemic has been attributed to various factors, including the high level of stress experienced by many people during this period, as well as the increasing availability of home delivery services offered by the alcoholic beverage industry. . According to Dr. Siegel, easier access to alcohol can contribute to an increase in its consumption.
The researchers note that estimates of alcohol-related deaths could be conservative, since the data only includes active drinkers and does not account for deaths from diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, for which excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor.
The CDC analysis highlights the need to urgently address this issue. It is suggested that states and counties could implement policies to increase alcohol prices, possibly through taxes, and make the products less accessible. Additionally, media campaigns could play a crucial role in encouraging people to reduce their alcohol consumption.
These findings add to a recent survey showing an increase in heavy drinking among middle-aged adults. According to the “Monitoring the Future” survey, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, heavy drinking among people ages 35 to 50 reached record levels in 2022. Additionally, this same age group reported record use of marijuana and hallucinogens .
In summary, the results of this study underscore the need to urgently address the problem of excessive alcohol consumption in the United States, both at the individual level and through policies and public awareness campaigns.
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