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Alcohol Poisoning Deaths infographic

Graphic: “Life-threatening signs of alcohol poisoning”, and “What is a “standard drink” in the US?”

Life-threatening signs of alcohol poisoning include:

  • Inability to wake up
  • Vomiting
  • Slow breathing (fewer than 8 breaths per minute)
  • Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths)
  • Seizures
  • Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, paleness

What is a "standard drink" in the US?

  • 12 ounces of beer 5% Alcohol
  • 8 ounces of malt liquor 7% Alcohol
  • 5 ounces of wine 12% Alcohol
  • 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits 40% alcohol (80 proof)
    e.g., vodka, whiskey, gin, rum
  • SOURCE: National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Infographics: “Alcohol poisoning deaths are most common among middle aged adults”, “Most people who die of alcohol poisoning are non-Hispanic whites”, and “Alcohol poisoning deaths vary by state.”

Alcohol poisoning deaths are most common among middle aged adults

% Alcohol
Poisoning Deaths		 Ages
5% 15–24
13% 25–34
21% 35–44
34% 45–54
21% 55–64
6% ≥65

Most people who die of alcohol poisoning are men

  • Men: 76%
  • Women: 24%

Most people who die of alcohol poisoning are non-Hispanic whites

  • White, non-Hispanic: 68%
  • Hispanic: 15%
  • Black, non-Hispanic: 9%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: 7%
  • Asian/Pacific Islander: 2%

Values have been rounded to nearest whole number and therefore may not equal 100.

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State Age-adjusted Rate§
Quartile 1 (5.3–6.7 death rate)  
Alabama 5.3
Texas 5.4
Illinois 5.6
Virginia 5.9
Wisconsin 6.0
Idaho 6.1
Louisiana 6.2
Pennsylvania 6.5
Connecticut 6.6
Florida 6.7
Mississippi 6.7
New Hampshire 6.7
Quartile 2 (6.8–8.5 death rate)  
Ohio 6.9
South Carolina 7.4
Missouri 7.7
Tennessee 7.8
Georgia 7.8
Arkansas 7.8
Maryland 7.8
Washington 8.1
Maine 8.1
Nebraska 8.1
Montana 8.5
State Age-adjusted Rate§
Quartile 3 (8.6 – 11.8 death rate)  
Indiana 8.6
North Carolina 8.6
New York 8.8
Kentucky 9.1
Kansas 9.6
Iowa 9.7
Michigan 9.7
Nevada 9.8
New Jersey 9.9
California 9.9
West Virginia 11.2
Quartile 4 (11.9 – 46.5 death rate)  
Massachusetts 11.9
Oklahoma 12.6
Oregon 12.7
Colorado 14.4
Minnesota 16.4
Utah 16.7
South Dakota 17.0
Wyoming 17.7
Arizona 18.7
Rhode Island 22.8
New Mexico 32.7
Alaska 46.5

*Alcohol poisoning deaths included those occurring among those aged ≥15 years in which alcohol poisoning was classified as the underlying (i.e. principal) cause of death based on International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) Codes: X45 (Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol), Y15 (Poisoning by and exposure to alcohol, undetermined intent).
†The average annual number of alcohol poisoning deaths in Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, North Dakota, and Vermont were <7, and therefore, did not meet standards of reliability and precision to calculate age-adjusted death rates.
§Alcohol poisoning death rates per 1,000,000 population for persons aged ≥15 years were age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. Census standard population.

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  • Page last reviewed: January 6, 2015
  • Page last updated: January 6, 2015
  • Content source: Error processing SSI file
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