CDC: One-Third of American Adults Are ‘Heavy Drinkers,’ But Not Alcoholics

via Fox News

A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that one-third of American adults can be defined as “heavy drinkers,” but most are not alcoholics.

For men, that’s 5+ drinks in one night or 15+ drinks in a week. For women, that’s 4+ drinks in a single night or 8+ drinks in a week.

Dr. David Samadi said on “America’s News Headquarters” today that the difference between an alcoholic and someone who drinks to excess can often be a matter of labeling.

He explained that the study took more than 130,000 American adults and found that only 10 percent of excessive drinkers are true alcoholics, about 3 percent of the total population.

One or two drinks socially with friends is fine, Samadi said, but if it becomes a routine thing, then it’s a problem, and you should seek help.

According to the CDC, excessive alcohol use is responsible for 88,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, including about 3,700 deaths from alcohol dependence, and cost the U.S. $223.5 billion in 2006 alone.

Watch the clip above and read more from the CDC.

 

Dr. Samadi is a board-certified urologic oncologist trained in open and traditional and laparoscopic surgery and is an expert in robotic prostate surgery. He is chairman of urology, chief of robotic surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital. He is a medical correspondent for the Fox News Channel’s Medical A-Team.

Learn more at roboticoncology.com. Visit Dr. Samadi’s blog at SamadiMD.com. Follow Dr. Samadi on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

CDC: One-Third of American Adults Are ‘Heavy Drinkers,’ But Not Alcoholics
5 (100%) 2 votes

Dr. David Samadi, MD.

Dr. David Samadi is a Urologic Oncology Expert and Robotic Surgeon who was included in the prestigious Castle Connoly's America’s Top Doctors and New York Magazine’s Best Doctor’s List.

View all posts

Add comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Translate

Categories

Twitter Feed

About Author

Dr. David Samadi, MD.

Dr. David Samadi is a Urologic Oncology Expert and Robotic Surgeon who was included in the prestigious Castle Connoly's America’s Top Doctors and New York Magazine’s Best Doctor’s List.