Alcohol and Drug Use
"Did You Know?" is a weekly feature from the Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support to inform your prevention activities. We invite you to read, share, and take action!
View the Current "Did You Know?"
January 11, 2013
- One in eight adult women and one in five high school girls in the United States binge drink. Women who binge drink do so about three times a month, averaging six drinks per binge.
- Drinking too much alcohol results in about 23,000 deaths among women and girls each year, and increases risks for cancer, heart disease, sexually transmitted diseases, and unintended pregnancy.
- The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends evidence-based strategies for preventing excessive alcohol use, including binge drinking.
December 7, 2012
- Antibiotics do not help fight viral infections, such as colds or flu, even though 36% of Americans believe otherwise.
- Overuse or misuse of antibiotics increases the development of drug-resistant germs.
- CDC offers a variety of education campaigns to promote proper use of antibiotics.
October 5, 2012
- The percentage of teens in high school who reported they drink and drive has decreased by more than half since 1991.
- Still, one in ten high school teens drinks and drives—that was nearly one million teens in 2011.
- Effective interventions to reduce teen drinking and driving include enforcement of minimum legal drinking age laws, zero tolerance laws, and graduated driver licensing systems.
July 6, 2012
- Nearly 1 in 3 prescription painkiller overdose deaths in 2009 involved methadone even though the drug accounted for only 2% of painkiller prescriptions.
- The number of deaths in 2009 involving methadone was 6 times higher than a decade before.
- States can use prescription drug monitoring programs to identify patients who are using methadone or other prescription painkillers for nonmedical purposes.
January 13, 2012
- One in six U.S. adults binge drinks about four times a month and, on average, the largest number of drinks per binge is 8.
- Drinking too much, including binge drinking, causes 80,000 deaths each year and cost $223.5 billion in 2006. Most binge drinkers are not alcohol dependent or alcoholics.
- The Community Guide recommends several community-based strategies for preventing binge drinking. Find out what your community can do.
November 4, 2011
- Nearly 15,000 people die every year of overdoses involving prescription painkillers.
- Enough prescription painkillers were prescribed in 2010 to medicate every American adult around-the-clock for a month.
- CDC supports state-based efforts to reduce prescription drug abuse, while ensuring patients have access to safe, effective treatment.
October 28, 2011
- Excessive alcohol consumption cost the United States $223.5 billion in 2006, or about $1.90 per drink, mostly due to binge drinking.
- About 15% of U.S. adults report binge drinking; see how your state or community compares.
- There are many evidence-based interventions that communities can use to prevent excessive drinking.
October 7, 2011
- Adults reported drinking and driving about 112 million times in 2010.
- Alcohol-impaired drivers are involved in about 1 in 3 crash deaths, resulting in nearly 11,000 deaths in 2009.
- CDC recommends many evidence-based interventions to prevent drinking and driving.
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- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support
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