Statistics on Alcohol Related Deaths

Statistics on alcohol-related deaths are bleak. Every year approximately 75,000 lives will be lost due to alcohol. Countless family and friends left behind will be greatly affected. No one is immune; a chronic alcoholic or an innocent bystander can become a victim. Each death is tragic and often avoidable. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol abuse is the third leading "preventable cause" of death in the United States.

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a form of liver disease that can be caused by alcohol abuse. According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), in 2005 almost 13,000 Americans died from alcohol-related cirrhosis.

Crashes

Approximately 39 percent of all traffic fatalities involve alcohol. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2005 over 16,500 individuals lost their lives in alcohol-related accidents.

Abuse

2005 data from NCHS shows over 21,600 individuals died from problems related to alcohol abuse, including alcohol poisoning, cardiomyopathy and pancreatitis.

Water

The CDC reports alcohol plays a part in up to half of water-related fatalities of adolescents and adults each year.

Suicide

CDC statistics show one-third of all suicides involve the use of alcohol.

Resources

• Centers for Disease Control alcohol statistics
• National Center for Health Statistics mortality data
• Centers for Disease Control 2008 suicide data
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration drunk driving statistics