The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that an average of 2,200 people die from alcohol poisoning in the U.S. every year, which is about six deaths per day.
Alcohol poisoning is caused be drinking large amounts of it over a short period of time, which can shut down key areas of the brain that control breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. The findings reveal alcohol poisoning deaths are more common than previously believed, even though the numbers are still believed to be an underestimate.
The new data, which is part of the CDC's Vital Signs report, three in every four alcohol poisoning deaths occur in individuals between the ages of 35 and 64 and is most prevalent among men and non-Hispanic whites. American Indians and Alaska Natives have the most alcohol poisoning deaths per million people. Alcohol deaths varied from 46.5 million deaths per million residents in Alaska to 5.3 per million residents in Alabama. The regions with the highest alcohol-related death rate included the Great Plains, western United States, and New England.
"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. "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."
To make their findings the CDC looked at deaths from alcohol poisoning among individuals 15 years of age or older using multiple cause-of-death data from the National Vital Statistics System for the years of 2010 to 2012.
"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. "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."
