In the years 2015-2019 excessive alcohol use was responsible for more than 140,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, or more than 380 deaths per day39. In Kentucky men with alcohol related deaths were nearly four times more likely to have chronic alcohol abuse than women40.
According to the BRFSS survey results as reported in the 2022 County Health Rankings, Pendleton County has an average number of adults reporting binge or heavy drinking in the last 30 days compared with the state overall41.
Excessive alcohol use includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, any alcohol use by persons under 21 years and alcohol used by pregnant women.
Binge drinking is defined as 5 or more drinks consumed on a single occasion for men and 4 or more for women, generally within about 2 hours.
Heavy drinking is defined as men who consume 15 drinks or more per week and women who consume 8 drinks or more per week.
Excessive or heavy drinking is associated with short and long term health effects including: injuries such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and burns; violence including homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence; alcohol poisoning, risky sexual behaviors including unprotected sex with multiple partners which can result in unwanted pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases including HIV; and miscarriage or still birth, or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders among pregnant women.
Long term health risks include high blood pressure; heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems; cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon; learning and memory problems including dementia; mental health problems including depression and anxiety; social problems including lost productivity, family problems and unemployment; alcohol dependence or alcoholism.