Alcohol-induced ER visits double in past 20 years, CDC says

Published January 15, 2026 12:01am ET



Emergency room visits caused by excessive alcohol consumption have doubled for both men and women in the United States over the past 20 years, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey revealed that nearly 5.4 million people in the U.S. during the 2021 to 2022 study period were treated for an alcohol-specific cause, such as acute alcohol intoxication or alcohol addiction.

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