States with the highest rate of alcohol dependence: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ ranks high
- Updated
In 2013, 17.3 million Americans were dependent on or abused alcohol. Moreover, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes annually, making it one of the leading preventable cause of death in America.
- Alex Greer, HealthGrove.com
- Updated
When people think of the most commonly abused recreational drugs in the U.S., they tend to think of highly addictive substances like heroin or cocaine. But the most frequently abused recreational drug is something far more commonplace: .
In 2013, Americans were dependent on or abused alcohol. Moreover, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated people die from alcohol-related causes annually, making it one of the leading preventable cause of death in America.
While alcohol dependence is an issue throughout the country, some states have higher rates than others. , a health data site by , looked at rates of alcohol dependence across the country. Using data from the , HealthGrove ranked each state by the percentage of its population over the age of 12 who were dependent on alcohol in 2014 (the most recent year available).
As with , Western states dominate the ranking, occupying six of the top 10 spots. Conversely, Southern states generally have the lowest rates of alcohol dependence. Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia are all in the bottom 10.
Note: Any ties are due to rounding.
Compiled by Alex Greer,
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 1.84%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.14%
Population: 2,990,632
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 1.96%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.58%
Population: 1,329,453
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 1.96%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.46%
Population: 4,853,875
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 1.98%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.44%
Population: 2,977,853
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.01%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.51%
Population: 2,989,390
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.03%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.41%
Population: 2,906,721
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.03%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.55%
Population: 6,595,056
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.1%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.56%
Population: 8,935,421
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.12%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.55%
Population: 10,199,398
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.15%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.54%
Population: 3,121,997
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.15%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.53%
Population: 27,429,639
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.18%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.61%
Population: 1,425,157
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.18%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.58%
Population: 7,160,290
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.19%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.6%
Population: 6,076,204
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.19%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.7%
Population: 20,244,914
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.23%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.59%
Population: 9,917,715
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.28%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.74%
Population: 1,841,053
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.3%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.7%
Population: 5,482,435
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.3%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.69%
Population: 3,907,414
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.31%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.75%
Population: 10,035,186
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.33%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.69%
Population: 944,076
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.35%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.83%
Population: 4,424,611
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.36%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.69%
Population: 12,839,047
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.38%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.45%
Population: 756,835
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.39%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.79%
Population: 8,367,587
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.39%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.8%
Population: 4,894,834
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.42%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.82%
Population: 1,652,828
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.43%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.73%
Population: 5,767,891
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.45%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.88%
Population: 5,994,983
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.59%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.8%
Population: 1,893,765
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.6%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.98%
Population: 2,883,758
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.62%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.86%
Population: 6,612,768
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.63%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.05%
Population: 12,791,904
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.64%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.93%
Population: 6,784,240
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.65%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.04%
Population: 11,605,090
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.68%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.98%
Population: 857,919
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.71%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.98%
Population: 3,584,730
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.73%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.88%
Population: 586,555
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.81%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.13%
Population: 1,032,073
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.83%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.14%
Population: 19,747,183
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.85%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.17%
Population: 737,709
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.89%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.12%
Population: 38,993,940
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.91%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.18%
Population: 4,668,960
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.98%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.24%
Population: 6,817,565
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.98%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.34%
Population: 4,024,634
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 3.01%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.33%
Population: 1,330,111
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 3.03%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.18%
Population: 1,055,607
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 3.06%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.35%
Population: 5,448,819
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 3.19%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.4%
Population: 626,088
- Updated
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 3.32%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.55%
Population: 2,080,328
- Alex Greer, HealthGrove.com
When people think of the most commonly abused recreational drugs in the U.S., they tend to think of highly addictive substances like heroin or cocaine. But the most frequently abused recreational drug is something far more commonplace: .
In 2013, Americans were dependent on or abused alcohol. Moreover, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated people die from alcohol-related causes annually, making it one of the leading preventable cause of death in America.
While alcohol dependence is an issue throughout the country, some states have higher rates than others. , a health data site by , looked at rates of alcohol dependence across the country. Using data from the , HealthGrove ranked each state by the percentage of its population over the age of 12 who were dependent on alcohol in 2014 (the most recent year available).
As with , Western states dominate the ranking, occupying six of the top 10 spots. Conversely, Southern states generally have the lowest rates of alcohol dependence. Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia are all in the bottom 10.
Note: Any ties are due to rounding.
Compiled by Alex Greer,
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 1.96%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.58%
Population: 1,329,453
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 1.96%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.46%
Population: 4,853,875
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 1.98%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.44%
Population: 2,977,853
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.01%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.51%
Population: 2,989,390
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.03%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.41%
Population: 2,906,721
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.03%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.55%
Population: 6,595,056
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.1%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.56%
Population: 8,935,421
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.12%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.55%
Population: 10,199,398
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.15%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.53%
Population: 27,429,639
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.18%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.61%
Population: 1,425,157
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.18%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.58%
Population: 7,160,290
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.19%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.6%
Population: 6,076,204
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.19%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.7%
Population: 20,244,914
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.23%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.59%
Population: 9,917,715
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.28%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.74%
Population: 1,841,053
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.3%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.7%
Population: 5,482,435
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.3%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.69%
Population: 3,907,414
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.31%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.75%
Population: 10,035,186
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.33%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.69%
Population: 944,076
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.35%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.83%
Population: 4,424,611
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.36%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.69%
Population: 12,839,047
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.38%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.45%
Population: 756,835
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.39%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.79%
Population: 8,367,587
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.39%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.8%
Population: 4,894,834
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.42%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.82%
Population: 1,652,828
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.43%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.73%
Population: 5,767,891
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.45%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.88%
Population: 5,994,983
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.59%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.8%
Population: 1,893,765
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.6%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.98%
Population: 2,883,758
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.62%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.86%
Population: 6,612,768
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.63%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.05%
Population: 12,791,904
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.64%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.93%
Population: 6,784,240
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.68%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.98%
Population: 857,919
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.71%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.98%
Population: 3,584,730
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.73%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 1.88%
Population: 586,555
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.81%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.13%
Population: 1,032,073
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.83%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.14%
Population: 19,747,183
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.85%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.17%
Population: 737,709
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.89%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.12%
Population: 38,993,940
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.91%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.18%
Population: 4,668,960
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.98%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.24%
Population: 6,817,565
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 2.98%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.34%
Population: 4,024,634
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 3.01%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.33%
Population: 1,330,111
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 3.03%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.18%
Population: 1,055,607
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 3.06%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.35%
Population: 5,448,819
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 3.19%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.4%
Population: 626,088
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 12+): 3.32%
Percentage of population dependent on alcohol (ages 26+): 2.55%
Population: 2,080,328
Most Popular
-
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Caleb Love was ejected at ASU because of Flagrant 2 foul, Big 12 clarifies
-
Bill bans ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ land purchases by 'hostile' foreign entities
-
We're hosting a market with 100 makers, food trucks, live music, tattoos + more â¤ï¸
-
Tim Steller's column: Trump executive orders starting to hit ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ hard
-
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s newest concert venue: A former monastery