Alcohol Use Disorder is More Widespread in the United States Than Expected

It turns out that a staggering number of people in the United States may suffer from alcohol use disorder. Now, scientists have taken a closer look at this disorder and found that it's more widespread than anyone expected.

Alcohol use disorders are among the most prevalent mental health disorders worldwide, resulting in disability and contributing to illness and death. Because of the seriousness of alcohol use disorders, it's important to gather data on how many people are suffering from these disorders.

In this latest study, the researchers surveyed 36,309 adults. They found that the 12-month prevalence of alcohol use disorder was 13.9 percent and the livetime prevalence was 29.1 percent, representing about 32.6 million and 68.5 million adults, respectively. Only 19.8 percent of adults with lifetime alcohol use disorder sought treatment or help, while 7.7 percent of those with a 12-month alcohol use disorder sought treatment.

The researchers also found that the prevalence of alcohol use disorder was highest for men, those who were white or Native American and among respondents who were younger and previously married.

"Most importantly, this study highlighted the urgency of educating the public and policy makers about AUD [alcohol use disorder] and its treatments, destigmatizing the disorder and encouraging among those who cannot reduce their alcohol consumption on their own, despite substantial harm to themselves and others, to seek treatment," write the researchers in the study, in a news release.

The findings are published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

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