So, how many American citizens actually suffer from alcohol use disorder in total? Although this number might not be the easiest to determine, a string of research programs and studies have attempted to uncover the frequency of this dreadful mental illness in our very own United States of America. Since the release of the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) in 2013, psychiatrists and other physicians have begun filing alcoholism and alcohol abuse under the classification of “alcohol use disorders,” which can range from habitual drinking to full-blown addiction. (Even in 1996, in an earlier copy of this manual, doctors separated alcohol abuse from dependency.) So, how severe has the problem actually become in our country? Let’s take a closer look at how common alcoholism is in the United States.
Rates of Alcohol Use
In general, the rates of alcohol use in this country are far from promising. Overall, 84.6% of adults 18 and older have reported tasting or drinking alcohol at some point in their lives, while 70.1% of adults confirmed usage in the past 12-months. Furthermore, 56.0% of these subjects admitted to drinking booze in the past 30 days.
In that light, the rates of binge drinking (consuming more than 5 drinks in one sitting) is not as prevalent as total alcohol consumption but still hints at an underlying problem. In total, 26.9% of adults 18 and older living in the United States confirmed they had engaged in binge drinking over the past 30 days. An additional 7.0% of adults admitted to binge drinking in the past month.
Prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorders
When put into perspective, alcohol use disorder is a relatively common mental illness in the United States, despite the low percentages (just take a look at the actual readout). Overall, 9.8 million men (8.4%) and 5.3 million women (4.2%) who are U.S. citizens suffer from an alcohol use disorder. (That is 6.2% of the total U.S. population, or 15.1 million adults over 18 years). Out of that number, only 6.7% of victims sought treatment for this mental problem.
Seeking Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
Always remember that alcohol does not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance use disorder or a severe form of addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.
The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your alcohol abuse or addiction troubles today.
