Alcohol abuse in Utah is continuously less than the national averages. However, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a problem. People in Utah still abuse alcohol and suffer with alcohol abuse. Just because numbers are lower it doesn’t mean they are nonexistent. Many people attribute the lower numbers to the higher population of practicing LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) members. Due to their scripture they believe they should not drink alcohol. This doesn’t mean no LDS members drink, but most refrain. Children who grow up in households where alcohol abuse does not occur are also less likely to abuse alcohol. With such a big network in the state of Utah, it can help to keep numbers low. However, Utah still has local breweries and distilleries throughout the state as well as liquor stores, gas stations and grocery stores where certain beers can be purchased, and bars and pubs. We consistently have one of the lowest DUI rates in the nation and still have some of the strictest laws on alcohol. With all of this, SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) still says that about 45,000 people ages 12-20 (10.5% of people in this age group) reported that within a month of taking the survey had participated in binge drink during 2013-2014. That number had not changed much since 2010. Children who participate in binge drinking are more likely to grow into adults with alcohol abuse and addiction problems. For the entire United States that percentage was 14%. In Utah, Adolescents aged 12-17, who used alcohol for the first time between 2010 and 2014, was at an annual rate of 5.6%. About 1 in 2 (53.7%) children ages 12-17 saw no great problem with have five or more drinks twice a week in 2013-2014.
Binge Drinking & Alcohol Abuse in Utah
According to the Utah Statewide Substance Abuse Epidemiology Profile, the rate of alcohol consumption, binge drinking, and heavy drinking is more consistent across all age groups than other states. In other states alcohol consumption is usually highest among young people. Age is not a determining factor for vulnerability to alcohol abuse in Utah as it is for other states. If you just look at the population of Utah that does drink, the rates of heavy drinking and binge drinking are consistent with the national rates. In 2011, 4.1% indicated heavy alcohol use in the past 30 days of being questioned. In 2011, 12% indicated binge drinking in the past 30 days. In 2011, the age group of 21-29 indicated the most alcohol use in the past 30 days, with 18-20 year olds having the least use. Binge drinking is the consumption of 5 or more drink for males and 4 or more drinks for females on the same occasion on at least one day in the past month. Heavy drinking is binge drinking on 5 or more days in the past month. Males tend to drink more alcohol than women. Women tend to have a higher percentage of alcohol poisoning ER admittance. In 2010, 2.9% of women indicated they drank alcohol in the last three months of their pregnancy.
Alcohol Addiction & Violence in Utah
Alcohol abuse in Utah causes other negative effects in the community. Alcoholism increases health care costs, domestic violence incidents, drunk driving accidents, sexual assaults, and other negative effects. In 2007, alcohol related cirrhosis caused 80 deaths, according to the State Epidemiological Data System. Even though Utah has the lowest DUI rate per capita in the nation, in the years 2005-2009 there was an annual average of 51.8 fatal alcohol related vehicle crashes. An annual average of 56.4 homicides from 2003-2007, an annual average of 360.2 suicides from 2003-2007, and an annual average of 5713.8 of reported violent crimes from 2003-2007, all relating to alcohol use. Utah remains higher than most states in rates of suicide. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, in 2010, alcohol misuse throughout the nation cost the United States $249 billion and three fourths of that is due to binge drinking. They also said that a study in 2012 showed more than 10% of U.S. children live with a parent with alcohol problems.
With all this data we can conclude that while the Utah population as a whole may have less problems with alcohol than the nation, there is still a lot of problems that arise when alcohol is abused and not just to the user. Even though this is a legal substance there are still many bad effects that it can cause especially when people binge drink or drink heavily. Even with the lower than national stats, Utah continues to enforce rules on drinking that are more strict and some call “weird,” that they believe will lessen the numbers of alcohol abuse in Utah even more. They do not sell liquor in grocery stores like most other states, and the beer that is sold at gas stations and grocery stores is at a lower alcohol percentage than most other states. Utah has also recently signed into law a bill that lowered that DUI blood alcohol limit to .05 percent which is the lowest in the nation, all other states remain at .08 percent. We will see in future surveys and data collected how this law will affect numbers discussed in this blog.
Finding the Right Treatment for Alcohol Addiction in Utah
If you or your loved one is suffering from alcohol addiction, rest assured help is available. Alcohol abuse in Utah is a serious issue and we can help. Our admissions coordinators can help you find the appropriate level of care and assist in review your benefits. If you are ready to make the change and live a life free from addiction please call us immediately. You can reach us at 1-888-986-7848 or contact us here
