Alcohol-Induced Mortality in Rural Areas and Female Population Show Dramatic Increase

Increased Alcohol-Induced Mortality in rural areas.

Alcohol-related deaths in the country’s rural areas increased dramatically between 2000 and 2018, according to a recent government study, which reported a 43 percent increase overall between 2006 and 2018 and a doubling of alcohol-related death rates in women since 2000. The report shows that while America’s urban areas accounted for the highest rates of alcohol-induced deaths among males and females in 2000, in 2018 the highest rates were found in medium metro, small metro, and rural areas. Overall, alcohol-induced death rates for those aged 25 and over were higher in 2018 in all urban and rural areas, underscoring the severity of this public health crisis.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report—“Rates of Alcohol-induced Deaths Among Adults Aged 25 and Over in Urban and Rural Areas: United States, 2000-2018”—focuses on alcohol-induced deaths that can directly be attributed to medical condition mortality, such as cirrhosis of the liver and alcohol poisoning, but does not include potential indirect mortality causes such as motor vehicle accidents and suicide. The report suggests that the findings would be much more dire if such indirect mortality figures were included.

The report highlights how alcohol-induced death rates for men were highest for those living in cities in 2000 with a rate of 21 per 100,000 compared to 17.8 per 100,000 for smaller towns and 16.7 per 100,000 for non-town rural areas. By 2018, the large city rate had climbed to 22.8 per 100,000, but this was far eclipsed by the small town—26.7 per 100,000—and non-town rural area—25.3 per 100,000—rates. As with the rates for men, alcohol-induced deaths for females increased in all urbanization categories from 2000 to 2018, but the increases were far more dramatic, with doubling and near doubling in all but one category—suburbs, which went from 4.1 per 100,000 to 6.9 per 100,000.

Increased Alcohol-Induced Mortality for Women in General.

While men’s death rates remain far above women’s, the study indicates that the gap is quickly narrowing. In 2000 the overall rate for males was 3.6 times higher than the rate for females, a difference that had dropped down to 2.6 times by 2018.

CDC researchers did not attempt to diagnose reasons for the death rate increases in the report, but outside researchers weighed in shortly after its Oct. 1 release, with calls for additional research, increased public health education outreach efforts, and an expansion of substance abuse treatment options in rural areas.

While CDC researchers and others in the substance abuse field seem focused on the rural component of the report’s findings, the startling climb in the female alcohol-induced death rates suggests that the issue of female alcohol abuse disorder merits equal attention.

If you or someone you care about, has an ongoing history of alcohol or substance use and/or relapse, contact Gulf Breeze Recovery or call: 833.551.2356 to speak to an addiction expert to learn more about their residential program, out-patient program, and intensive out-patient program, and which of these can best fit your individual needs.  These programs have helped many people overcome their addiction and embrace their new happy, healthy, substance-free lifestyle.

We help people not just to survive, but to THRIVE!