Details:

Alternative Title:
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep
Personal Author:
Kanny, Dafna ; Brewer, Robert D. ; Mesnick, Jessica B. ; Paulozzi, Leonard J. ; Naimi, Timothy S. ; ... More +
Kanny, Dafna ; Brewer, Robert D. ; Mesnick, Jessica B. ; Paulozzi, Leonard J. ; Naimi, Timothy S. ; Lu, Hua Less -
Description:
Background

Alcohol poisoning is typically caused by binge drinking at high intensity (i.e., consuming a very large amount of alcohol during an episode of binge drinking). Approximately 38 million U.S. adults report binge drinking an average of four times per month and consuming an average of eight drinks per episode.

Methods

CDC analyzed data for 2010–2012 from the National Vital Statistics System to assess average annual alcohol poisoning deaths and death rates (ICD-10 codes X45 and Y15; underlying cause of death) in the United States among persons aged ≥15 years, by sex, age group, race/ethnicity, and state.

Results

During 2010–2012, an annual average of 2,221 alcohol poisoning deaths (8.8 deaths per 1 million population) occurred among persons aged ≥15 years in the United States. Of those deaths, 1,681 (75.7%) involved adults aged 35–64 years, and 1,696 (76.4%) involved men. Although non-Hispanic whites accounted for the majority of alcohol poisoning deaths (67.5%; 1,500 deaths), the highest age-adjusted death rate was among American Indians/Alaska Natives (49.1 per 1 million). The age-adjusted rate of alcohol poisoning deaths in states ranged from 5.3 per 1 million in Alabama to 46.5 per 1 million in Alaska.

Conclusions

On average, six persons, mostly adult men, die from alcohol poisoning each day in the United States. Alcohol poisoning death rates vary substantially by state.

Implications for Public Health Practice

Evidence-based strategies for preventing excessive drinking (e.g., regulating alcohol outlet density and preventing illegal alcohol sales in retail settings) could reduce alcohol poisoning deaths by reducing the prevalence, frequency, and intensity of binge drinking.


Subject:
[+]
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Binge Drinking
Cause Of Death
Ethanol
Ethnicity
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Racial Groups
Vital Statistics
Young Adult

Source:
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2015; 63(53):1238-1242.
Pubmed ID:
25577989
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC4646044
Document Type:
Journal Article
Place as Subject:
United States
Collection(s):
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:1d68e662db637b58f0153c24f928e63dd58acd4a5d5c1518026f4acdda13578e
File Type:

Supporting Files

• 	1238-1242.nxml	xml
  	1238-1242f1.gif	gif
  	1238-1242f1.jpg	jpeg

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