How alcohol-related deaths have changed in every state over the past two decades
Over the last 20 years, a disturbing trend emerged: All 50 states have seen a significant increase in alcohol-related deaths. Only Washington D.C. saw a decrease in death rates.
Besides more obvious alcohol-related deaths like alcohol poisoning or drunk-driving accidents, prolonged heavy alcohol use can cause a range of health problems, which can lead to death. Liver cirrhosis, which develops over years, is a common condition among those who drink heavily. Excessive drinking causes damage to the liver, which causes a , rather than living tissue, in the organ. The effects of cirrhosis are largely irreversible and can lead to liver failure and death.
Alcohol use can also raise the risk of . The most common alcohol-related cancers are throat and mouth, liver, esophagus, breast, colon, and rectum. When the body breaks down alcohol, it becomes a chemical called acetaldehyde. This chemical can damage DNA, which can lead to cells growing out of control, resulting in the creation of a tumor. Some alcoholic drinks may also like asbestos fibers, hydrocarbons, and nitrosamines.
To slow the increasing number of deaths, the CDC created a state funding program to build aimed at preventing excessive alcohol use. The CDC also partnered with health care networks to improve alcohol screenings and interventions.
To determine how alcohol-related deaths have changed in every state over 20 years, examined data between 2000 and 2020 from the. The CDC considers alcohol-induced deaths as any reported deaths caused by alcohol use鈥攚hether dependent or non-dependent鈥攁nd accidental alcohol poisonings. For every state, 2020 statistics are provided, including the number of alcohol-related deaths, how this figure compares per 100,000 people, the state population that year according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and the 20-year percent change for all three of these statistics.
