|
Excessive Alcohol Consumption
Excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of preventable death
in the United States, and is a risk factor for many health and societal problems.
Excessive alcohol consumption can take the form of heavy drinking (drinking more
than two drinks per day on average for men or more than one drink per day on average
for women), binge drinking (drinking more than 4 drinks during a single occasion for
men or more than 3 drinks during a single occasion for women), or underage drinking
(which is illegal and often involves binge drinking). According to national surveys
of alcohol consumption in the prior 30 days, over half of U.S. adults drank alcohol.
Furthermore, approximately 5% of the total population drank heavily and 15% of the
population engaged in binge drinking.
Given the health and societal impact of excessive alcohol consumption on both adult
and underage populations, the Task Force on Community Preventive
Services has selected it as a priority topic for the Guide to Community Preventive
Services.
|
