Alcohol-Related Deaths in U.S. Surge Nearly 90% in Quarter Century, New Study Reveals
Los Angeles, CA – A new analysis reveals a dramatic and concerning rise in alcohol-induced deaths across the United States, increasing by 89% between 1999 and 2024. Researchers identified 14 causes of death linked to alcohol use, including alcoholic liver disease, alcohol poisoning, and alcohol-related mental and behavioral conditions, according to findings published this week.
The study pinpointed 2021 as the deadliest year on record, with 54,258 reported deaths. While the rate has begun to level off in 2024, it remains 25% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
The research highlights a shift in who is most affected.While historically, men have been disproportionately impacted by alcohol-related fatalities, the largest increase in death rates during the study period was observed among women aged 25-34, followed closely by men in the same age group. American Indian and Alaskan Native populations also face a notably elevated risk.
“The rapid rise of alcohol-induced deaths among women is particularly concerning,” said Maria R. D’Orsogna, an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Computational Medicine at UCLA and senior study author, in a statement. “Although men still die at higher rates, the gender gap appears to be closing. Notably, for the population aged 25-34, the male-to-female mortality ratio has decreased from three-to-one in 1999 to two-to-one in 2024.”
Interestingly, the study found that deaths directly caused by alcohol poisoning remained relatively low throughout the period, suggesting that chronic, heavy alcohol use is a more notable driver of fatalities than acute overdoses.
Researchers caution that the reported figures likely underestimate the true impact of alcohol on public health,as alcohol is a known risk factor for numerous chronic diseases,including certain cancers. Other research suggests over 178,000 deaths annually in the U.S.are linked to excessive alcohol consumption.
The study authors emphasize the need for further investigation into the socioeconomic factors contributing to excessive alcohol use and call for targeted prevention and treatment strategies, particularly for men, young adults, and the American Indian/Alaska Native population.
