In the News

Report: Sharp Rise in Hospitalizations Tied to Energy Drinks

Emergency room visits linked to energy drink consumption have surged in recent years, according to a report released on Tuesday, as more people combine the popular beverages with alcohol and drugs.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said hospitalizations in the United States tied to energy drinks have jumped tenfold to 13,114 in 2009 from 1,128 visits in 2005. The most recent year for which data is available is 2009.

The agency, a unit of the Department of Health and Human Services, said that 44 percent of the visits involved people who had combined the stimulant-rich drinks with alcohol, pharmaceuticals or illicit drugs.

9 of 10 People with Alcohol Problems Don't See Need For Help

According to the recent results of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH),¹ more than 92% of adults aged 21 to 64 in the U.S. with alcohol problems—those that meet diagnostic criteria for either alcohol abuse disorder or alcohol dependence disorder²—do not see a need for treatment.³

Anyone who knows someone in trouble with alcohol or who has struggled with alcohol themself, knows all too well the challenges of admitting or accepting that there is a problem and it's time to get help. As a result, you may have heard or said any of the following:

"I don't need help, I can stop anytime I want to."

"It's not that bad, I don't drink everyday and I have a job."

"If you just got off my back, things wouldn't be so bad."

"My husband will never admit he has a problem or seek help."

"The cops in this town have always been out to get me."

"If you had a job like mine, you'd drink too!"

2.5 Million Alcohol-Related Deaths Worldwide- Annually

Based on the analyses of 100 individual country profiles, The World Health Organization (WHO) has released The Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health focused on analyzing available evidence on alcohol consumption, consequences and policy interventions at global, regional and national levels.

The harmful use of alcohol is a global problem which compromises both individual and social development. It causes harm far beyond the physical and psychological health of the drinker, including the harm to the well-being and health of people around the drinker. Alcohol is associated with many serious social and developmental issues, including violence, child neglect and abuse, and absenteeism in the workplace.

Alcohol Affects Far More Lives Than All Other Drugs Combined

Quite frankly, one of the most significant challenges faced by NCADD and our National Network of Affiliates is putting the problems of alcohol and drugs into a perspective that the general public can understand. When alcohol is combined into any discussion about other drugs, the general public, the media and policy makers tend to focus on the more dramatic issues of the illegal drugs or just drinking and driving, as if it is the only alcohol-related problem.

The focus of this article is not about one or the other being "the real problem." The goal is the presentation of accurate information both to better inform the public about risks and to more effectively shape the needed public and policy response. And these days, as more and more data and information are aggregated under the term "substance abuse" or "behavioral health" it makes it more difficult for us and the general public to fully understand the true scope of the problem.