Excess drinking kills one in ten

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY)– The CDC just released a shocking study about alcohol and how it’s killing a large number of people every year.

“Too much of anything is a bad thing,” Todd Scott said.

That’s exactly what this new study found. The CDC says one in 10 deaths among Americans between age 20 and 64 is due to drinking too much alcohol. Since 2006 that has been about 88,000 deaths per year. Among the causes were chronic diseases caused by drinking alcohol, alcohol poisoning, and car accidents.

After seeing the study Ed Wadbrook said, “Stunned, stunned.”

This seemed to be everyone’s reaction to the study. Wadbrook says these numbers need to convince people to do some reevaluating.

“I think people need to reassess. I think they fit into that category,” he explained. “So I think, what are the health issues associated with that. That is a concern. What is the guidance that we are getting from society to control that better.”

Young adults like Brittni Emery say drinking has become a part of socializing.

“People use it for a social thing, but they abuse it socially”, she said. “So just be comfortable being in your own skin. You don’t need alcohol. You don’t need alcohol to cope. You don’t need alcohol to have a good time.”

Those we spoke with, agreed people need to make some improvements.

“You need to be aware that every single day you can improve yourself and if binge drinking is a label it is probably a negative thing for work, for family, and friends,” Wadbrook said.

Improvements could also save the u-s some money, because the CDC also says excessive drinking costs the United States about $224 billion a year. The director of the CDC’s National Center says they need to redouble their efforts to try to prevent these deaths and the financial costs that result.