A study which chillingly lays bare the “public health crisis” that arose over a decade in the United States because of excessive alcohol consumption has received severe criticism for relying on comprised data to arrive at that conclusion. It has been criticized by some experts and the Distilled Spirits Council (DSC) for being less consistent, and for not including young adults aged below 18 years, who are increasingly taking to alcohol in America.

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Study on Rising Alcoholism in America Receives Flak for Using 'Compromised Data'
A study which chillingly lays bare the “public health crisis” that arose over a decade in the
United States because of excessive alcohol consumption has received severe criticism for
relying on comprised data to arrive at that conclusion. It has been criticized by some experts
and the Distilled Spirits Council (DSC) for being less consistent, and for not including young
adults aged below 18 years, who are increasingly taking to alcohol in America.
The study was sponsored by federal agencies, such as the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse
and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and relied on data
provided by the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcoholism and Related Conditions
(NESARC) for the period 2001-02 and 2012-13. During the course of the study, participants
were analyzed for problematic drinking and alcohol use disorder (AUD).
High-risk drinking was
measured against four
standard drinks (1
standard drink=14
grams of pure alcohol).
The researchers found
that in the gap of 11
years, between the
passage of the first
NESARC evaluation and
the second, there was a
substantial increase in
12-month drinking,
high-risk drinking, and
AUD, especially among
women, older adults,
racial/ethnic minorities, and the socioeconomically disadvantaged.
The cases of high-risk drinking rose from 8.5 percent in 2001 to 12.7 percent in 2013, a spike
of 49.4 percent, indicating that nearly 30 million Americans are under the spell of alcohol.
Overall, alcohol use increased from 65.4 percent to 72.7 percent whereas high-risk drinking
increased by 29.9 percent.
The overall increase in AUD in various subgroups over 11 years is as under:
 Women: 83.7 percent
 African Americans: 92.8 percent
 Middle-aged adults (45-64 years): 81.5 percent
 Elderly people (65 and older): 106.7 percent
 High school educated people: 57.8 percent
 Employees with salary less than $20,000: 65.9 percent

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NSDUH data more methodological
In sharp contrast, another study conducted by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health
(NSDUH), revealed that the alcoholism graph instead of peaking in the said period had
declined. It stated that while in 2002, 7.7 percent of Americans aged 12 and older were under
the spell of alcohol, 6.6 percent were reportedly addicted to alcohol in 2013. Moreover,
NSDUH evaluated individuals 12 years and older whereas NESARC's survey considered only
those aged 18 and above.
Another apparent flaw in the NESARC study was related to the fact that no biological samples
were collected in the first round, though an attempt was made to collect saliva specimens in
the second wave. Also, as most of the study participants were informed beforehand that they
would be tested for drug use, chances are that they responded differently. NESARC
respondents were also given monetary rewards in 2012-13, which was not the case in the first
wave. This could have influenced their responses.
Richard Grucza, associate professor in the department of psychiatry at Washington University
School of Medicine, compared the methodologies of both the surveys and said, “The NSDUH
methods are much more consistent from year-to-year, and it is administered annually. So I
tend to put more weight on NSDUH data.”
Alcohol is a dangerous addiction
High alcohol consumption continues to be a serious concern. Every year, thousands of people
succumb to alcohol-related problems, including accidents, unintentional injuries, suicides and
homicides. Devising more effective preventive policies, increasing public awareness
programs, and making health care facilities accessible to all is the need of the hour.
With timely help and treatment one can avoid the dangers of alcohol use and its related
conditions. If you or a loved one is addicted to alcohol and looking for an expert guidance,
contact the Arizona Alcohol Addiction Helpline. Our experts can help you find one of the top
alcohol addiction treatment centers in Arizona. Call our 24/7 helpline 866-671-1510 to know
about the best available options in alcohol addiction treatment in Arizona.