Minorities and women show highest growth in alcohol-related mortality.
As we enter the holiday season, many of us will throw or attend holiday gatherings or parties. Thanksgiving and Christmas cocktails and New Year’s plans are heavily promoted in magazines, newspapers, and Food Network shows. It is important to remember that some of our friends, family members, and neighbors may be struggling with addiction, and this time of year is always harder for them. Due to the stigma associated with substance use disorders, we may not even know they are struggling, as they are keeping a difficult secret, for fear of shame or judgment.
New and alarming research reveals that now more than ever, alcohol can be dangerous and fatal for some individuals. In September of 2025, researchers published results of an analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control’s National Vital Statistics System. The researchers reviewed yearly and monthly alcohol related deaths by gender, sex, and race. Over the span of 25 years, from 1999 to 2024, the data showed that deaths from alcohol were up 89 percent. The most common deaths that were attributable to alcohol were alcohol-related liver disease. The next most common deaths were mental disorders triggered by alcohol abuse and addiction.
The number of people dying from alcohol-related illnesses peaked at 54,258. This occurred in the thick of the Covid pandemic, in 2021. The most concerning finding was a 255 percent increase in alcohol related deaths in women aged 25-34.
Deaths for men related to alcohol were still the highest, which tracks with data we know related to addiction across gender. However, the fastest growing mortality rates are clearly for women in the age range of 25-34.
Looking at race, American Natives and Alaskan Natives had the highest rates of mortality, three to four times higher than Whites. Black females had higher rates (32 percent) than Black males (28 percent), spiking from April through May of 2020.
Covid played a significant role, one we cannot ignore. The researchers suggested that a big catalyst for the mortality rate was the social isolation people endured during the pandemic.
2024 shows a general reduction in overall alcohol-related mortality, but it still remains above rates compared with 2019. Cancer-related deaths were not even included in this data set, suggesting that the overall mortality rates would be even higher.
What are the takeaways from this data, and how can we apply this to the 2025 holiday season?
- Awareness and education: Research into women’s risks of addiction and their unique consequences has long been ignored. Data compiled in the last 10-15 years show that women have higher risks of worse medical complications related to addiction and alcohol specifically. Telescoping is a term used to describe how women become sicker faster within addiction, and this most recent research suggests that. A focus in the primary care physician’s office on education and prevention tailored toward women specifically may help in educating on alcohol use, addiction, and the risks.
- Racial impacts cannot be ignored: Native Americans and Native Alaskans have the highest rates of mortality compared with Whites. Blacks and Black females saw spikes of mortality in the early part of Covid. We must do more for these populations: awareness of their risks, screening for risky drinking behaviors, and early prevention and interventions are key to reducing mortality.
- Know what the limits of safe drinking are: The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has published recommendations on moderate and risky drinking. The 2020-2025 guidelines recommend no more than two drinks a day for a man and no more than one drink a day for women. Heavy drinking is five or more drinks a day for a man and four or more for a woman. A standard drink is measured as five ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor.
- Awareness of co-occurring disorders: Mental health disorders that accompany addiction are the rule rather than the exception. Where I work, we see 80 percent of individuals seeking addiction treatment also struggling with mental health problems. The risk of mortality related to depression and anxiety triggered by alcohol was the second highest tracked in this study. Addressing mental health disorders along with addiction treatment is considered the gold standard and gives someone a better chance at overall recovery from their substance use disorder.
- Holidays can be tough: This time of year can be a huge challenge for people in recovery and those who are struggling with active addiction. Watch out for your family and friends. Be aware of others who are more vulnerable to alcohol. This includes those in recovery, women, and teens. Alcohol can be dangerous or fatal for these folks. Someone you love may need to be in treatment, even during the holidays; this can give them a great start to the new year and possibly save their life.
