When the opioid epidemic hit the United States, Ohio residents were hit particularly hard. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Ohio had the second-highest rate of drug overdose deaths attributed to opioids in the country in 2017, with a rate of 39.2 deaths per 100,000 people. One huge contributor to these deaths was prescription drugs. These statistics, while incredibly sobering, do not include the alcohol-related injuries and deaths that continue to prevail in the state. In this article, we’ll cover the alcohol abuse statistics of Ohio and give you vital information on substance abuse and addiction.
Table of Contents
Excessive Alcohol Use
Excessive alcohol use is generally divided into two categories: binge drinking and heavy alcohol use. Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks in two hours for men and four or more drinks in two hours for women. Additionally, your blood alcohol content (BAC) level should reach 0.08 g/dL.
On the other hand, heavy alcohol use relates to binge drinking five or more days within a month. Both kinds of drinking put you at risk for alcohol addiction.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), excessive alcohol use can be traced to over 88,000 deaths in the United States each year. One piece of good news: about 9/10 of American adults who binge drink do not have an alcohol use disorder, otherwise known as alcohol addiction. That said, it’s important to remember that excessive alcohol use can develop into a long-term addiction for some people.
Excessive Alcohol Use Ohio
In 2018, the national average of people who were 18 or older who drank excessively was 18.2 percent. In Ohio, however, around 19.2 percent of the adult population engaged in excessive drinking. This figure, while not too much higher than the general population’s, still indicates a troubling substance abuse statistic in Ohio. That’s why we believe it’s so important to share these resources that can help people get the help they need.
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
While excessive alcohol use impacts many Ohioans, a more serious concern is substance abuse and addiction in Ohio. Alcohol use disorder, a chronic condition characterized by compulsive drinking and a preoccupation with alcohol, can bring about serious consequences. Symptoms of alcohol use disorder include:
- Inability to limit your alcohol intake
- Unsuccessfully quitting drinking
- Spending a lot of time drinking, or recovering from your use
- Feeling cravings for the substance
- Developing a tolerance to alcohol, so you need more in order to feel the same effects
In serious cases, alcohol withdrawal can occur, bringing about painful symptoms when the drug leaves your body. When your body is in withdrawal, you may feel:
- nausea and vomiting
- sweating, shaking, and rapid heartbeat
- hand tremors, anxiety
- problems sleeping, restlessness and agitation
- hallucinations and seizures
According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 14.4 million adults aged 18 and older suffered from an alcohol use disorder in 2018. This figure includes 9.2 million men2 (7.6%) and 5.3 million women2 (4.1%). Perhaps more worrying is the population of those with alcohol use disorder who receive treatment. Only 7.9% of adults sought help nationally.
Alcohol Use Disorder Ohio
In 2017, approximately 5.9% of individuals aged 12 and older suffered from an alcohol use disorder in Ohio. This figure jumps considerably for those in the 18-25-year-old group, though. Around 12.5% of Ohioans in this age range experienced an alcohol addiction.
Alcohol Use and Motor Vehicle Crashes
One serious consequence of alcohol use is the increased risk of a car crash when drinking. Each day, around 29 people in the United States lose their life due to a car crash involving a driver who has been under the influence of alcohol. This amounts to over 10,000 people a year, or one death every fifty minutes.
Even worse, this doesn’t even factor in the number of people who drive under the influence. More than 1 million people were arrested in 2016 for driving under the influence, or about 1% of the approximately 100 million drivers in the U.S.
Alcohol Use and Motor Vehicle Crashes in Ohio
Unfortunately, Ohio has suffered from a number of alcohol-related fatalities in the past few years. The latest figures, from 2017, show that 405 people lost their lives in an alcohol-related car crash. Additionally, between 2003 and 2012, over 3600 individuals died due to drunk driving.
Reach out for Help Today
The alcohol abuse statistics in Ohio indicate a real problem with substance abuse in the state. If you are one of the thousands of Ohioans struggling with alcohol abuse, know that you are not alone. The Woods at Parkside, one of Ohio’s best treatment centers, is here to help. We provide help for both drug and alcohol addictions. Reach out to us at 614-471-2552 or begin an online assessment today.
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Original Author: The Woods at Parkside
