what is the average cost and treatment course of excessive alcohol consumption

by Hiram Baumbach 7 min read

The estimated cost of excessive drinking in 2010 was $249.0 billion. This equates to $2.05 per drink or $807 per person. Lost productivity comprised 71.9% of costs, health care comprised 11.4%, and other comprised 16.7%.

Detox, Rehab, And Treatment
Inpatient care is extensive and constant and as such, the price can range anywhere from $5,000-$80,000 depending on the center, length of stay, and type of insurance coverage. Outpatient rehab typically costs between $1,400-$10,000, but the total cost is dependent on other factors as well.
May 4, 2022

Full Answer

What is the cost of excessive alcohol use?

The cost of excessive alcohol use in the U.S. was almost a quarter trillion dollars in 2010. Implementing effective community-based interventions can reduce excessive drinking and its costs. suggests it is also a drain on the American economy, mostly due to losses in workplace productivity.

What are the costs of workplace alcoholism?

However, most of the costs resulted from losses in workplace productivity (72% of the total cost), health care expenses for treating problems caused by excessive drinking (11% of total), law enforcement and other criminal justice expenses (10%), and losses from motor vehicle crashes related to excessive alcohol use (5%).

How much do you spend on alcohol a day?

Online tools such as an alcohol spending calculator can be helpful in seeing how much you may be spending by drinking daily. For example, if you drink 7 days a week and 5-6 beers a day at around $24 for a 12 pack of domestic beer, you’d be spending around $120 on beer alone in a week.

How many people are affected by alcohol each year?

In 2018, an estimated 14.8 million people were diagnosed with alcohol use disorders (AUD), yet only around 4.6% of them sought treatment. 1 These stats show a clear need for an awareness surrounding the dangers of drinking alcohol regularly.

What is the cost of excessive drinking?

$249 billion loss: Healthcare – $28 billion. Workplace productivity – $179 billion.

What are the standard treatments for alcohol use disorders?

Treatment for alcohol use disorder may include:Detox and withdrawal. ... Learning new skills and making a treatment plan. ... Psychological counseling. ... Oral medications. ... Injected medication. ... Continuing support. ... Treatment for psychological problems. ... Medical treatment for health conditions.More items...•

What is the most effective treatment for alcohol dependence?

Naltrexone (Trexan) and acamprosate (Campral) are recommended as FDA-approved options for treatment of alcohol dependence in conjunction with behavior therapy.

What is the first line treatment for alcohol use disorder?

Evidence-Based Answer Acamprosate and naltrexone should be used as first-line agents for treatment of alcohol use disorder and are effective for reducing relapse rates.

What is the final stage in the development of alcoholism?

The final stage of alcoholism is addiction. At this stage, you no longer want to drink just for pleasure. Alcohol addiction is characterized by a physical and psychological need to drink. People with alcohol addiction physically crave the substance and are often inconsolable until they start drinking again.

What happens when you drink alcohol everyday?

High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems. Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum. Weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick. Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance.

What liver tests show alcohol damage?

Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase test. This test is often performed to assess liver function, to provide information about liver diseases, and to detect alcohol ingestion.

What does naltrexone help with?

Naltrexone is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat both alcohol use disorder (AUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD).

Can a doctor tell if you drink alcohol?

A battery of new tests on blood, urine and hair can reveal how much someone has drunk not only in the past days, but also in the past weeks and … months. Doctors are likely to be the first to employ some or all of the new tests, to monitor patients with alcohol problems.

Can pharmacist prescribe naltrexone?

The community pharmacist can serve as a valuable resource to primary care providers who may be hesitant to prescribe naltrexone owing to a lack of knowledge of the medication or a poor understanding of the disorder and the treatment options available.

How does Gabapentin work for alcohol dependence?

Through its effects on GABA, gabapentin calms down the brain, which is exactly what is needed for the hyper-aroused state of a newly sober alcoholic (3). This is believed to result in a reduction in anxiety and improve sleep (4, 5), both of which are associated with reduced cravings for alcohol.

Does naltrexone work long term?

Naltrexone (brand name: ReVia) is a medicine that reduces your desire for alcohol when you try to stop drinking. Naltrexone may help you stay sober for a long time. Although your doctor has prescribed naltrexone to help you stop drinking, this medicine is not a complete cure for your alcoholism.

How many people have alcohol use disorders in 2018?

In 2018, an estimated 14.8 million people were diagnosed with alcohol use disorders (AUD), yet only around 4.6% of them sought treatment. 1. These stats show a clear need for an awareness surrounding the dangers of drinking alcohol regularly.

How much did Americans spend on alcohol in 2010?

Americans spent around $249 billion on alcohol in 2010 which breaks down to roughly $807/year per person, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 12 However, binge drinkers and heavy alcohol users consume considerably more drinks per day than the average consumer; so that number is likely much higher for them.

How does alcohol affect relationships?

Relationships With Family and Friends. Alcohol abuse can affect more than just the person drinking it . It can be detrimental to your relationships with friends, family members, coworkers and anyone else you meet as you go through your daily life.

Why is alcoholism less present in family?

Family members dealing with alcoholism may also be less fully present in their day-to-day due to frequent hangovers or other adverse effects that may cause them to disengage. Read more about how alcoholism can affect relationships with your friends and family.

What are the costs of a DUI?

Although fees vary state-by-state, the costs associated with a DUI typically include fees for bail, attorneys, court fines, court-mandated classes, and public transportation due to the loss of a license or vehicle.

How to contact American Addiction Centers?

Call us now at 1-888-685-5770 to start your journey toward recovery today! Sources. [1].

Can alcohol abuse affect marriage?

Marriages may also begin to feel the weight of a husband or wife’s alcohol abuse issues. Those suffering from alcoholism may begin overspending family budgets to pay for alcohol, start arguments with their spouse when sobriety is discussed, or even get into physical altercations with them.

How much did drinking cost the US in 2006?

These estimates update two previous CDC studies that found excessive drinking cost the U.S. $223.5 billion and cost states and D.C. a median of $2.9 billion in 2006.

How can we reduce excessive drinking?

Implementing effective community-based interventions can reduce excessive drinking and its costs. Excessive alcohol use is known to kill more than 95,000 people in the United States each year, but a CDC study.

How can communities prevent excessive drinking?

These include: Implementing pricing strategies to increase the price of alcohol. Regulating the number and location of where alcohol is sold (outlet density).

What is binge drinking?

Binge drinking is defined as drinking four or more alcoholic beverages per occasion for women or five or more drinks per occasion for men. Further, 2 of every 5 dollars were paid by federal, state, and local governments, demonstrating that we are all paying for excessive alcohol use.

Do you know the cost of alcoholism?

Have you ever wondered how much a chronic alcohol habit costs you, personally? What about the economic impact of alcohol addiction on our society?

The cost of binge drinking to Americans

First, we’d like to examine the costs related to binge drinking. Binge drinking costs $191 billion of the total $223.5 billion related to annual alcohol-related problems. That means that nearly three quarters of the total U.S. costs of alcohol problems are attributed to binge drinking. So what is binge drinking, exactly?

How much does drinking cost you?

Even though law makers and government officials are most interested in the impact on the economy, it is your family’s economic power which is significantly lowered due to the direct expenses for purchasing alcohol. So, how much is alcohol costing you, personally? Here are some sums to consider:

Cost of alcoholism questions

Do you want to learn more? Please check out the infographic where we break down important data and present them visually. If you have more questions, we welcome you to post them in the comments section below and we will respond personally and promptly.

What is excessive drinking?

Excessive drinking includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, and any drinking by pregnant women or people younger than age 21. Binge drinking, the most common form of excessive drinking, is defined as consuming. For women, 4 or more drinks during a single occasion. For men, 5 or more drinks during a single occasion.

What are the long term health risks of drinking alcohol?

Long-Term Health Risks. Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems including: High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems. 6,16. Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon. 6,17. Weakening of the immune system, increasing the ...

What are the health risks of binge drinking?

Short-Term Health Risks. Excessive alcohol use has immediate effects that increase the risk of many harmful health conditions. These are most often the result of binge drinking and include the following: Injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and burns. 6,7.

What are the benefits of adhering to the dietary guidelines?

4. By adhering to the Dietary Guidelines, you can reduce the risk of harm to yourself or others.

What is considered excessive alcohol consumption?

Excessive alcohol use includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, and any alcohol use by pregnant women or anyone younger than 21. Binge drinking is defined as consuming 4 or more drinks on an occasion for a woman or 5 or more drinks on an occasion for a man. Heavy drinking is defined as consuming 8 or more drinks per week for a woman or 15 ...

How much did excessive drinking cost the US economy in 2010?

In 2010, excessive alcohol use cost the US economy $249 billion, or $2.05 a drink. About 40% of these costs were paid by federal, state, and local governments. Excessive alcohol use includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, ...

How many drinks a week is heavy drinking?

Heavy drinking is defined as consuming 8 or more drinks per week for a woman or 15 or more drinks per week for a man. Binge drinking is responsible for almost half the deaths and three-quarters of the costs due to excessive alcohol use. CDC estimates that 37 million US adults—or 1 in 6—binge drink about once a week, ...

What is the role of the CDC in preventing alcohol abuse?

Enforce laws that prohibit alcohol sales to minors. CDC scientists work with state and local health agencies to evaluate the effect of evidence-based prevention strategies on excessive alcohol use and related harms.

How many binge drinks are consumed in the US?

As a result, US adults consume about 17 billion binge drinks annually, or about 470 binge drinks per binge drinker. Further, 9 in 10 adults who binge drink do not have a severe alcohol use disorder.

How much did alcohol cost the US in 2010?

In 2010, excessive alcohol use cost the US economy $249 billion, or $2.05 a drink. About 40% of these costs were paid by federal, state, and local governments. Binge drinking is responsible for almost half the deaths and three-quarters of the costs due to excessive alcohol use. 9 in 10 adults who binge drink do not have a severe alcohol use ...

What are the effects of alcohol on health?

Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems, including alcohol use disorder and problems with learning, memory, and mental health. Chronic health conditions that have been linked to excessive alcohol use include:

What percentage of adults drink alcohol in the past month?

Prevalence of Drinking: According to the 2019 NSDUH, 47.1 percent of adults ages 18 to 22 drank alcohol in the past month. Within this age group, 52.5 percent of full-time college students ages 18 to 22 and 44.0 percent of other persons of the same age drank alcohol in the past month. 30

How does underage drinking affect the world?

In addition, underage drinking contributes to a range of acute consequences, such as injuries, sexual assaults, alcohol overdoses, and deaths—including those from motor vehicle crashes. 27. Alcohol is a factor in the deaths of thousands of people younger than age 21 in the United States each year. This includes:

What is binge drinking?

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings BAC levels to 0.08 g/dL or higher. This typically occurs after a woman consumes 4 or more drinks or a man consumes 5 or more drinks—in about 2 hours. 55

What is the gender specific threshold for binge drinking?

Consumption of 2 or more times the gender-specific thresholds for binge drinking, which is to say 10 or more standard drinks (or alcoholic drink-equivalents) for males and 8 or more for females. High-intensity drinking is consistent with drinking at binge levels II and III. The levels correspond to one to two times (I), two to three times (II), and three or more times (III) the standard gender-specific binge thresholds. 6

What is the BAC of a motorcycle driver?

Alcohol-impaired driving fatality: A fatality in a crash involving a driver or motorcycle rider (operator) with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 g/dL or more (*A BAC of 0.08 percent corresponds to 0.08 grams per deciliter, or 0.08 grams per 100 milliliters).

How many people drink in 2019?

Prevalence of Drinking: According to the 2019 NSDUH, 39.7 percent of 12- to 20-year-olds reported that they have had at least 1 drink in their lives. 25 About 7.0 million people ages 12 to 20 24 (18.5 percent of this age group 25) reported drinking alcohol in the past month (17.2 percent of males and 19.9 percent of females 25 ).

How many people have AUD?

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the United States. Image. People Ages 12 and Older: According to the 2019 NSDUH, 14.5 million (nearly 15 million) people ages 12 and older 7 (5.3 percent of this age group 8) had AUD.