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Problem Drinking Declines in the US
Newser • • health
Key Points:
- The percentage of Americans aged 12 and older meeting criteria for alcohol use disorder declined from 10.6% in 2021 to 8.9% in 2025, reducing affected individuals by about 4 million.
- Most of the decrease is among people with milder forms of alcohol use disorder, representing a notable public health improvement.
- Experts attribute the decline to changing social norms, increased awareness of alcohol’s health risks, and possible substitution with cannabis.
- This positive trend occurs despite the federal government scaling back alcohol-related public health initiatives, including softer drinking guidelines and reduced funding for programs at agencies like the CDC.
- Excessive alcohol use still causes an estimated 178,000 deaths annually in the US, underscoring the ongoing public health challenge.
