Addiction Medicine: Closing the Gap between Science and Practice

Between 2002 and 2010, risky tobacco use in the
U.S. population ages 12 and older decreased
slightly, from 19.9 percent (46.8 million) in
2002 to 18.5 percent (47.0 million) in 2010.
Among adolescents (ages 12 to 17), the decrease
in risky tobacco use was more pronounced, from
12.0 percent in 2002 to 9.0 percent in 2010.^21

Risky Alcohol Use*

In 2010, 27.2 percent of the U.S. population
ages 12 and older (69.0 million) were current
risky drinkers:^22

 24.2 percent were age 21 and older who, on
average, exceeded the USDA guidelines for
safe alcohol use;

 2.9 percent were under age 21 and drank
alcohol; and

 0.1 percent were adult pregnant women who
drank alcohol.† 23

Within this population of risky drinkers:

 69.6 percent‡ were heavy drinkers--
consuming more than three drinks on any
day or more than seven drinks in any week
for women, and more than four drinks on

• Based on the USDA Guidelines for safe alcohol use

described on page 40. Excluded from the category of
risky drinkers are those who meet diagnostic criteria
for addiction involving alcohol in the past year.
Because the analyses were restricted
to the data available in the NSDUH, the component
of risky alcohol use that reflects the USDA
guidelines of no more than one drink a day for
women and two for men was measured by the item:
“On the days that you drank during the past 30 days,
how many drinks did you usually have?” As such, it
represents the average amount respondents drink on
days that they drink. If a woman drinks, on average,
more than one drink a day on days that she drinks or
if a man drinks, on average, more than two drinks a
day on days that he drinks, she or he would be
considered a risky drinker in this analysis.
† A portion of this category is included in the adult

risky drinker category above.
‡ 18.9 percent of the population (ages 12 and older),

48.0 million people.

any day or more than 14 drinks in any week

for men;§

 65.1 percent** were current binge drinkers--

consuming five or more drinks on the same

occasion on at least one day in the past 30

days; and

 14.7 percent†† were current heavy binge

drinkers--binge drinking on at least five days

in the past 30 days.‡‡ 24

More than half (52.6 percent) of all current

drinkers are risky drinkers. Nearly half (46.4

percent) of risky drinkers§§ also are risky users

of tobacco or other drugs. While not having

addiction involving alcohol, 14.2 percent of

risky drinkers have addiction involving nicotine

and/or other drugs.^25

As with tobacco, 18- to 25-year olds have the

highest rates of risky alcohol use.^26 One in 10

adolescents ages 12 to 17 are risky drinkers.*** 27

(Figure 3.F)

§ Due to limitations of the NSDUH data set, weekly

consumption was computed as an average of monthly

drinking divided by 4.33, or 52 weeks / 12 months.

** 17.7 percent of the population, 44.9 million people.

†† 4.0 percent of the population, 10.1 million people.

‡‡ Rates of heavy, binge, and heavy binge drinkers

include only risky alcohol users who do not have

addiction involving alcohol.

§§ Who do not have addiction involving alcohol.

*** For individuals under age 21, any alcohol use (in

the past 30 days) that does not meet criteria for

addiction is considered risky drinking.