Six people died on a daily basis from alcohol poisoning during the period between 2010 and 2012, the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed.
The Medical News Today explained on Wednesday that alcohol poisoning is the consumption of "an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time." Death typically occurs when extreme levels of alcohol lead to the shutdown of critical areas of the brain. The affected areas control vital functions like breathing, heart rate and body temperature, resulting in the loss of life.
The CDC analysed the multiple cause-of-death data from the National Vital Statistics System to ascertain the details of people who were aged 15 years and older at the time of death. The examination revealed that the age range of 35-64 years accounted for three quarters of alcohol poisoning deaths, while men are considered to be at a much greater risk of an alcohol-poisoning death in comparison to women—of those poisoning deaths in the CDC analysis, 76 per cent were male.
Dr Robert Brewer, one of the co-authors, told reporters: "This study shows that alcohol poisoning deaths are not just a problem among young people." In terms of addressing the issue, Dr Brewer spoke of a "comprehensive approach to reducing binge drinking", and identified "evidence-based community strategies, screening and counseling in health care settings" as important components.
According to the report, an average of four monthly binge-drinking sessions occur for 38 million American adults, who also reported consuming an average of eight drinks per binge.