Although alcohol is the most commonly used substance by teens, most teens don’t drink. Teens’ alcohol use continues to drop. From 2001 to 2022, past year alcohol use by 12th graders decreased from 73 percent to 52 percent.
Underage drinking contributes to more than 3,900 deaths among people below the age of 21 in the U.S. each year.9 Drinking under age 21 is also strongly linked with death from alcohol poisoning.
The minimum drinking age in the United States is 21. Having a national minimum drinking age saves lives and improves health. There is even evidence that the law protects people from drug dependence and suicide
Alcohol addiction and abuse is not only a considerable burden on government spending, it also claims thousands of lives across the country each year. Some notable statistics on alcohol addiction include:
Alcohol Awareness Month is a health awareness campaign that was formerly sponsored by the National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD). It took place every April and was established in 1987 to raise awareness for communities and to help understand the causes and treatment available for one of the nation’s biggest health issues. The campaign also aimed to reduce the social stigma associated with alcoholism and to educate people on how the disease can be addressed; offering help and advice for families as well as direct engagement with those afflicted with alcohol addiction.
