Alcoholism & Treatment Statistics by Profession
Alcohol Abuse Is a Serious Problem in the US
The National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA) reported that the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 26.9 percent of adults, ages 18 and older, reported binge drinking at least once per month, and 7 percent reported heavy alcohol consumption in the past month.
Since 2001, abuse of alcohol in the United States has skyrocketed. A new report suggests that Americans underreport their alcohol consumption, so as many as 30 million people could participate in binge drinking at least once per week. Similar numbers of people report alcohol abuse or dependence. In general, more men than women abuse alcohol, but that gap is closing, as the number of female problem drinkers has increased more than any other group since 2001. Adolescent alcohol abuse has declined, but adult alcohol abuse is on the rise.
Professions with the Highest Rates of Alcohol Abuse
Data gathered by SAMHSA outlines the professions that experience the highest rates of alcohol abuse.
Understanding Problem Drinking
Moderate drinking is not well understood in the US. Many people may self-report that they drink moderately when they actually consume alcohol heavily or participate in binge drinking too often. Standard serving sizes of alcohol are:
- 12 ounces of beer, or one bottle
- 5 ounces of wine
- 1.5 ounces of liquor or spirits, which is about one shot