In 2005, 51.8 percent of the total U.S.
population aged 12 and older reported using alcohol in the
past month; among those aged 18 and older, the rate was
55.9 percent (data not shown). According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol is a central
nervous system depressant that, in small amounts, can have
a relaxing effect. Although there is some debate over the
health benefits of small amounts of alcohol consumed regularly,
the negative health effects of excessive alcohol use and
abuse are well-established. Short-term effects can include
increased risk of motor vehicle injuries, falls, domestic
violence, and child abuse. Long-term effects can include
pancreatitis, high blood pressure, liver cirrhosis, various
cancers, and psychological disorders, including dependency.
Overall, males are more likely to drink
alcohol than females with past-month alcohol use reported
by 58.1 percent of males and 45.9 percent of females aged
12 years and older. This is true across all age groups with
the exception of 12- to 17-year-olds; in that group, 17.2
percent of females and 15.9 percent of males reported past-month
use. Males are also more likely than females to engage in
binge drinking, which is defined as drinking five or more
drinks on the same occasion at least once in the past month
(30.5 versus 15.2 percent), and heavy drinking, which is
defined as five or more drinks on the same occasion at least
five times in the past month (10.3 versus 3.1 percent).
Alcohol use during pregnancy can be a
special concern for women of childbearing age. Drinking
alcohol during pregnancy can contribute to Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome (FAS), low birth weight in infants, and developmental
delays. In 2004–05, 12.1 percent of pregnant women reported
drinking alcohol in the past month. This was most common
in the 15–17 and 26–44 year age groups (13.9 and 13.5 percent,
respectively) and least common among those in the 18–25
year age group (9.7 percent; data not shown).
>
Vertical Bar Chart: Past Month Alcohol Use, by Sex and Age, 2005
>Vertical Bar Chart:
Past Month Alcohol Use Among Those Aged 12 and Older by Type and Sex, 2005
|