By Emily Miller
More than 2,000 people die from alcohol poisoning each year in the United States – an average of six deaths per day – according to a new Vital Signs report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Three in four alcohol poisoning deaths involve adults ages 35 to 64 years of age with the highest being men and non-Hispanic whites.
Alcohol poisoning deaths rates varied across states, from 46.5 deaths per million residents in Alaska to 5.3 per million residents in Alabama. The states with the highest death rates were in the Grate Plains, western United States, and New England.
Deaths caused by alcohol poisoning involve an individual consuming a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time, which results in very high levels of alcohol in the body. This can cause critical area of the brain that control breathing, heart rate, and body temperature to shutdown – resulting in death.
“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, Ph.D. “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.”
The CDC pointed out that more than 38 million U.S. adults report binge drinking an average of four times per month who consumer an average of eight drinks per binge. By definition, binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men during an occasion.
Binge drinking can take a serious toll on an individual’s health, as heavy drinking can damage the liver and heart, increase the chance of developing certain cancers, and contribute to depression or violent tendencies.
In comparison to moderate and non-alcohol drinkers, individuals with a history of heavy drinking have higher heath care costs. This is because alcoholic behaviors are often linked to other health related problems.
Annual health care expenditures for alcohol-related problems amount to $22.5 billion. The total cost of alcohol problems is $175.9 billion per year – compared to $114.2 billion for other drug problems and $137 billion for smoking.
Another important reminder is that if you get injured while you’re under the influence of alcohol, your health insurance company can refuse to pay for your medical care if you were heavily intoxicated.
