Explore facts and statistics on alcohol use disorder, including health impacts, mortality, and treatment gaps in the United States.

The Addiction Policy Forum invites national, state, and local organizations to sign on to a letter expressing support for continued funding for substance use disorder (SUD) programs in the FY2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) appropriations bill. The national sign-on letter calls on Congress to maintain funding for key federal agencies and programs that address addiction across the continuum of care. Ongoing support is essential

Understanding the science of substance use disorders (SUD), including prevention, treatment, and recovery, is critical to how individuals and communities respond to addiction. Yet despite decades of research, misconceptions about SUDs remain widespread, shaping not only how people think and act towards individuals who are struggling, but also how patients seek care. Strengthening addiction literacy—the ability to access, understand, and apply information about SUDs—is essenti

In a study published in JAMA Cardiology , researchers found chronic cannabis use—whether through smoking or THC-infused edibles—is associated with impaired vascular function, even among young and otherwise healthy adults. Healthy vascular function allows blood vessels to dilate properly, deliver oxygen efficiently, and help regulate key processes within the circulatory system. When vascular function is impaired, blood vessels are less able to expand, which can reduce blood fl

On March 26, 2026, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing titled “Policies to Protect Our Communities from Illicit Drug Threats.” The hearing discussed 14 bills that aim to reduce overdoses and improve substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery services and addiction research. In the hearing, members of Congress agreed on a bipartisan basis that addiction should be treated as a disease using community-based care. House members highlighted that communit

Alcohol Awareness Month is a time to raise awareness and increase understanding of how alcohol use impacts our health and communities. In the United States, alcohol contributes to more than 178,000 deaths each year, making it one of the leading preventable causes of death. In 2024 alone, nearly 28 million Americans ages 12 and older (1 in 10 people) met the criteria for an alcohol use disorder. Excessive alcohol use is also linked to seven different types of cancer and more t