11 Facts About Alcohol Abuse

1. Every year in the U.S., roughly 5,000 people under the age of 21 die from an alcohol-related incident including car crashes, homicides, suicides, alcohol poisoning and other related injuries.
2. Alcohol is a substance that impairs judgement when consumed and can lead to drinking and driving, unintended sexual activity, violence or other dangerous behaviors.
3. Men are consistently more likely than women to drink in excess and are 2 times more likely to be involved in a fatal alcohol-related car accident. Offer to be the designated driver for your parents and loved ones to ensure that everybody makes it home safe. Sign up for Parents Ride Shotty.
4. 70% of 18-year-olds admit to drinking an alcoholic beverage at least once, while 80% of college-aged students report consuming alcohol.
5. Binge drinking is when a large amount of alcohol is consumed in a short period of time. For men, this is 5 or more drinks within 2 hours, and for women, 4 or more.
6. 18 to 34-year-olds binge drink the most. Binging can lead to unplanned pregnancy, car accidents, spread of sexually transmitted disease, violence or alcohol dependence.
7. 2/3 of the high school-age students who drink do so to the point of intoxication.
8. Approximately 17% of men and 8% of women will be dependent on alcohol in their lifetime.
9. There are roughly 80,000 deaths that are related to alcohol abuse every year, making it the 3rd highest cause of death in the U.S.
10. Alcohol abuse can lead to long-term health issues like cardiovascular disease, cancer of the throat, liver, or mouth, anxiety and depression, dementia, liver disease and much more.

11. Alcohol poisoning is a short-term consequence of drinking in excess which can cause a loss of consciousness, coma, or death.