Statistics on Alcohol Use Disorder in Austin, Texas
In terms of addiction, alcohol is a much more dangerous substance than many people realize simply because it's legal for people 21 and older to purchase. But legality and social acceptance don't change the fact that alcohol is the most widely abused drug, and it's been that way for many years.
How bad is alcohol use disorder in Austin, TX? It turns out Travis County has one of the highest rates of drinking alcohol and abusing it.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Texas consumes alcohol at a rate that’s just under the national average.
- Travis County has the second highest rate of excessive drinking in Texas.
- 23% of drinkers in Travis County participate in excessive drinking.
- Over 10% of Texans have an alcohol use disorder.
- 36.1% of middle school and high school students in Texas have used alcohol.
- 77% of Texans needing treatment for a substance abuse disorder never get help.
Statistics on Alcohol Abuse in Austin and Texas
CountyHealthRatings.org allows users to look up information on drinking statistics by county or zip code. What they’ve found is that Austin has a high instance of excessive drinking. Currently, 23% of people in Travis County drink alcohol excessively.
Excessive alcohol consumption includes heavy drinking and binge drinking that isn’t related to blood alcohol concentration. Binge drinking is often defined as five or more drinks on one occasion, however for women at least four drinks qualifies as binge drinking. Heavy drinking is when a person has 5+ binge drinking episodes in one month.
These alcohol consumption rates are similar to the findings of the 2022 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services national survey for Texas. It was estimated that 44.37% of people 12 years old and older had consumed alcohol and 21.88% of them participated in binge drinking.
This is a troubling trend that hasn’t relented. In 2018 the City of Austin reported that 22.2% of Travis County residents stated that they had at least one binge drinking incident in the previous 30 days.
The percentage of Texans with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) is estimated to be 10.25% of people over the age of 12 years old. Alcohol addiction is significantly higher in Texas than all other drug abuse disorders combined.
Alcohol is a Gateway for Other Drug Use
There’s no denying that people who use alcohol are at an increased risk of using other drugs even if they don’t have a family history of such disorders. Research from the American Addiction Centers has shown that alcohol is by far the first substance that’s used by the majority of people with 65.8% of people stating as such. Marijuana use is a distant second at 18.1%. This trend has held true across many decades.
The risk factors of addiction, alcohol affects on personal relationships, the health consequences and other alcohol related problems are serious for anyone who abuses alcohol. Increased use reduces the chance of being able to stop drinking alcohol without professional assistance. Once a person is experiencing withdrawal symptoms from alcohol use disorder it’s harder to end the physical dependence.
Unfortunately, many people in Austin, TX who are battling an alcohol use disorder don’t receive any sort of treatment or assistance. It’s estimated that 77.13% of Texans that are classified as needing professional help for a substance use disorder don’t enter any type of alcohol treatment program.
How Alcohol Use Disorder in Austin and Texas Compares to National Statistics
Alcohol Abuse Among Teens in Austin, TX
The National Institute on Drug Abuse and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) are among the organizations that collect data for the entire U.S. The annual survey from SAMHSA notes that 47.5% of Americans consume alcohol.
But SAMHSA narrows the data down to how alcohol is consumed to identify rates of misuse. When it comes to binge drinking, 21.7% of people who consume alcohol had at least four drinks on one occasion.
CountyHealthRatings.org has determined that Texas is right in line with national statistics for excessive drinking with 18% of the population falling into the category. That means Texas is average. Travis County is another story. It has a notably higher rate of excessive drinking with 23% of residents owning up to excessive alcohol use.
An alcohol use disorder can develop early in life if minors are given access. The alcohol consumption often continues throughout life, which is a large reason for the increase in alcohol use with age.
Teen Alcohol Use Statistics
The Texas School Survey (TSS) of Drugs & Alcohol Use tracks alcohol use among students in state secondary schools. The latest TSS Drugs & Alcohol Use Survey found that in 2022 36.1% of students between the ages of 12 and 17 had used alcohol at some point.
The SAMHSA survey looked at alcohol use among 12 to 20 year olds who are underage drinkers. The survey found in Texas 13.65% of people in that age group had used alcohol in the past month. Over 7% of 12-20 year olds took part in binge drinking. Even more troubling is that 5.44% had developed alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol Abuse and Mental Health Problems in Austin, TX
There is a known tie between alcohol abuse and mental health. Those who suffer from a mental health condition such as clinical depression, an anxiety disorder, a personality disorder, PTSD and other illnesses are more likely to abuse alcohol. Chronic alcohol misuse can be a sign of unresolved mental health issues that need to be treated.
Mental health in America is at an all-time low, and the outlook isn’t better for Texas. In fact, Texans report worse mental health than the average American. In 2023, 36.8% of people in Texas had symptoms of depression and anxiety. The national average at the same time was 32.3%. A few years earlier in 2020, 33% of females in Travis County and 21% of males reported having poor mental health.
The numbers are concerning given that the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse has found that up to 40% of people with an alcohol use disorder also have at least one mental health disorder. Even worse is that the disorders can make each other worse, deepening both problems.
Often treatment plans for alcohol use disorder involve cognitive behavioral therapy and medications that help with co-occurring mental health conditions.
Want support while you overcome an alcohol use disorder?
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can make it very difficult to safely quit drinking on your own. People are much more successful at recovering from an alcohol dependence with professional support, medications and counseling.
At Any Length Retreat we’ve helped many men take control of their alcohol use disorder so that they can regain control over their lives. You can do it too with the right support.
Reach out to our team to discover what our recovery retreats have to offer.
You can overcome alcohol addiction and recover your life, and Any Length Retreat’s men’s alcohol rehab program can help. Call or text (512) 960-1440 to begin your journey today. We’re standing by 24/7 to help you get started.
*Any Length Retreat is a supportive, educational recovery system and community. It is not a substitute for psychotherapy, clinical, or medical treatment for substance use disorders or mental health disorders.
