Alcohol Abuse

According to the latest issue of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about half of Americans aged 12 or older reported being current drinkers of alcohol (50.1 percent). This translates to an estimated 119 million people.

The rate of alcohol abuse (binge drinking or heavy alcohol consumption) was 41.6 percent for young adults aged 18 to 25, yet the estimates for those addicted to alcohol totaled about 14 million individuals, indicating a huge discretionary gap in the estimation of those who abuse alcohol and those who need treatment for alcoholism.

The following pages contain specific information about the effects of alcohol and statistics associated with its consumption.

The highest prevalence of both binge and heavy drinking in 2003 was for young adults aged 18 to 25, with the peak rate of both measures occurring at age 21. The rate of binge drinking was 41.6 percent for young adults aged 18 to 25 and 47.8 percent at age 21. Heavy alcohol use was reported by 15.1 percent of persons aged 18 to 25 and by 18.7 percent of persons aged 21.

While 57.7 percent of the population aged 45 to 49 in 2003 were current drinkers, 23.2 percent of persons within this age range were binge drinkers and 6.8 percent drank heavily. Rates of binge and heavy drinking were relatively low among people aged 65 or older, with rates of 7.2 and 1.8 percent, respectively.

Among youths aged 12 to 17, an estimated 17.7 percent used alcohol in the month prior to the survey interview. Of all youths, 10.6 percent were binge drinkers, and 2.6 percent were heavy drinkers. These percentages for binge drinking and heavy drinking were very similar to those obtained in 2002 (10.7 and 2.5 percent, respectively).

Read more information about alcohol and other drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation.

Alcohol Rehabilitation Program

» alcohol treatment program origin
» L. Ron Hubbard and the Narconon Program
» alcohol treatment program overview
» alcohol addiction treatment research
» alcohol and drug education
» narconon arrowhead faq

Alcohol News

» one drink impairs ability
» college binge drinking study
» alcohol deaths shock fraternities
» teen alcohol consumption staggering
» the real cost of alcohol advertising
» alcohol during prom and graduation
» alcohol in the holiday season
» you drink, you drive, you lose
» independence day reminder

Success Stories

» Narconon saved my life
» I overcame alcohol abuse
» I had done a lot of drugs
» I have my old daughter back
» Narconon Arrowhead is the best
» I wanted to feel clean again

Other Resources

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