Many People Who Drink a Lot Aren't Alcoholics: CDC
But raising price of alcohol and limiting sales could help curb excessive drinking, researchers say
THURSDAY, Nov. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most people who drink to excess or binge drink are not alcoholics, a new U.S. government report says.
In fact, 90 percent of those who drink too much aren't dependent on alcohol. But one in three adults drinks to excess, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"A lot of people mistakenly assume that people who drink too much are alcoholics," said study co-author Dr. Robert Brewer, the leader of CDC's alcohol program.
"The surprising finding was that nine out of 10 people who drink too much do not meet the diagnostic criteria for alcoholism," he said.
Brewer said that some excessive drinkers are "self-medicating."
"But a lot of it is a reflection of the fact that we live in a society where people get a lot of mixed messages about drinking," he said. "A lot of people have been led to believe that drinking, and often drinking a large amount, is part of having a good time. What we need to do is change the environment in which people make their drinking decisions."
According to the report, published Nov. 20 in the CDC journal Preventing Chronic Disease, most excessive drinkers are binge drinkers.
Binge drinking is defined for women as having four or more drinks on an occasion, and for men as having five or more drinks on an occasion. Eight or more drinks a week for women or 15 or more drinks a week for men is considered excessive. Any drinking by pregnant women or those under 21 is also considered excessive, Brewer said.
Alcoholism, however, is a chronic condition that usually includes a history of excessive drinking, a craving for alcohol, continued drinking despite repeated problems with alcohol and being unable to control drinking.
Excessive drinking is responsible for 88,000 deaths each year. About 3,700 alcohol-dependent people die each year, according to the report.
These deaths are caused by the long-term effects of drinking too much, such as breast cancer, liver disease and heart disease. Deaths also occur from the immediate effects of drinking, such as violence, alcohol poisoning and car crashes.
Many People Who Drink a Lot Aren't Alcoholics: CDC
But raising price of alcohol and limiting sales could help curb excessive drinking, researchers say
THURSDAY, Nov. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most people who drink to excess or binge drink are not alcoholics, a new U.S. government report says.
In fact, 90 percent of those who drink too much aren't dependent on alcohol. But one in three adults drinks to excess, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"A lot of people mistakenly assume that people who drink too much are alcoholics," said study co-author Dr. Robert Brewer, the leader of CDC's alcohol program.
"The surprising finding was that nine out of 10 people who drink too much do not meet the diagnostic criteria for alcoholism," he said.
Brewer said that some excessive drinkers are "self-medicating."
"But a lot of it is a reflection of the fact that we live in a society where people get a lot of mixed messages about drinking," he said. "A lot of people have been led to believe that drinking, and often drinking a large amount, is part of having a good time. What we need to do is change the environment in which people make their drinking decisions."
According to the report, published Nov. 20 in the CDC journal Preventing Chronic Disease, most excessive drinkers are binge drinkers.
Binge drinking is defined for women as having four or more drinks on an occasion, and for men as having five or more drinks on an occasion. Eight or more drinks a week for women or 15 or more drinks a week for men is considered excessive. Any drinking by pregnant women or those under 21 is also considered excessive, Brewer said.
Alcoholism, however, is a chronic condition that usually includes a history of excessive drinking, a craving for alcohol, continued drinking despite repeated problems with alcohol and being unable to control drinking.
Excessive drinking is responsible for 88,000 deaths each year. About 3,700 alcohol-dependent people die each year, according to the report.
These deaths are caused by the long-term effects of drinking too much, such as breast cancer, liver disease and heart disease. Deaths also occur from the immediate effects of drinking, such as violence, alcohol poisoning and car crashes.