New research shows that alcohol deaths in the U.S. have doubled since 1999, with sharp increases during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data signals an escalating public health crisis requiring urgent policy action. Disparities worsened: alcohol death rates surged among women, youth, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations, Black Americans saw a 21% annual increase in mortality after 2019. Experts call for urgent alcohol policy action, including improved screening and treatment access, alcoh...
