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New CDC Study: Most Excessive Drinkers Are Not Alcoholics

Details: Created: Wednesday, December 03 2014 16:29

December 3, 2014

Recent research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) indicates that only 1 out of 10 Americans who drink excessively are dependent on alcohol.

The CDC defines excessive consumption as 8 standard drinks a week for women, and 15 for men. Drinking at these levels causes 88,000 deaths in the U.S. annually, and significantly increases the risk of liver cirrhosis, several types of cancer, traffic crashes, injuries, and suicide. Excessive consumption results in $223.5 billion a year in economic damage in the U.S.

Robert Brewer, Alcohol Program Lead in the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, points out that the study results indicate problem drinking is an issue for a much larger population than previously thought, and that evidence-based prevention strategies such as increasing alcohol prices and reducing alcohol outlet density can help to ameliorate the problem.

Last chance in 2014 to help us expose Big Alcohol's toxic influence!

Details: Created: Monday, November 24 2014 11:11

Last chance to help us expose Big Alcohol's toxic influence in 2014!

This year, excessive alcohol consumption will cost the U.S. 88,000 lives and $223.5 billion in economic loss. Yet, Big Alcohol companies continue to spend millions lobbying, advertising, and exerting their influence to keep selling ever more product, putting profits over public health and causing ever-increasing harm. Alcohol Justice, the only Industry Watchdog, holds Big Alcohol accountable for this devastating impact. Please consider a year-end donation to Alcohol Justice.

Alcohol Justice worked hard in 2014 against Big Alcohol’s influence. With your support, here's how our efforts paid off:

We helped the Coalition to Ban Alcohol Advertising on Public Property in L.A. move forward a sweeping ordinance to ban alcohol ads on city property, including benches, buses, and bus shelters. That's over one million underage youth in L.A. who won't be seeing alcohol ads on their public spaces.
We hosted the first annual San Francisco Bay Area Edition of the REEL Recovery Film Festival, featuring three world premieres. More than 1,500 attendees were educated about the disease of addiction and the wonderful recovery resources available.
We continued to build a strong base of support for youth prevention in Marin County through Our San Rafael Alcohol and Drug Coalition and Youth for Justice project.

You can help us continue our fight in 2015 with your generous contribution.

Best wishes for a peaceful and safe New Year.

Bruce Lee Livingston
Executive Director/CEO