Alcohol Use and Abuse Increasing in the US

Rates of drinking and alcohol abuse are on the rise in the United States (US). An analysis of data has found that the rate of alcohol use in the US increased from 65% in 2001-2002 to nearly 73% by 2012-2013. Furthermore, the prevalence of alcoholism rose from 8.5% to 13% in the same time frame. The findings highlight the urgency to educate the public, policymakers, and healthcare professionals about high-risk drinking and alcohol use disorders so that prevention and treatment strategies can be implemented. JAMA Psychiatry, August 2017