Nevada Alcohol Addiction Statistics

Alcohol consumption and its associated consequences remain a significant public health concern in Nevada. Patterns of alcohol use vary across demographics, with high rates of binge drinking, early initiation of alcohol use, and increasing prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD). 

The impact extends beyond individual health, contributing to hospitalizations, emergency visits, and economic burdens. Additionally, alcohol-related deaths and crime rates underscore the severity of excessive drinking in the state. 

Let’s look at important statistics about alcohol addiction in Nevada.

Key Takeaways:

• The percentage of Nevadans aged 12 and older with AUD increased from 6.0% in 2019 to 10.2% in 2020.
• The average alcohol consumption in Nevada was 4 gallons of pure alcohol per person in 2021, exceeding the national average of 3 gallons.
• The percentage of Nevada high school students who drink alcohol declined from 26.5% in 2017 to 19.3% in 2021.
• Nevada recorded 69,452 alcohol- and drug-related emergency department visits in 2021, with 15,550 cases having alcohol as the primary issue.
• Nevada reported 804 alcohol-related deaths in 2020 and 776 in 2021.
• Excessive alcohol consumption contributes to an average of 1,548 deaths annually in Nevada.
• Excessive alcohol use cost Nevada taxpayers $2.296 billion in 2010. When adjusted for inflation, this is equivalent to $3.1 billion in 2022.
• The median number of drinks per binge in Nevada is 5.5, with the top 25% of binge drinkers consuming 7.8 drinks per session and binge drinking 1.6 times per month.
• The percentage of Nevada middle school students who have ever consumed alcohol declined from 29.2% in 2019 to 21.7% in 2021.
• In 2022, there were 12 fatalities involving a 15- to 20-year-old driver with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.01%, accounting for 27% of all fatal crashes.
• Excessive alcohol consumption results in 38,880 years of potential life lost annually in Nevada.

Prevalence and Demographics of Alcohol Use in Nevada

• According to America’s Health Rankings, 17.0% of adults in Nevada reported engaging in binge drinking or heavy drinking in 2023. 
• Pew Research Center analyzed data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) for 2021 and found that the average American consumed nearly 3 gallons of pure alcohol that year. In Nevada, the per capita alcohol consumption was higher, with the average person consuming nearly 4 gallons of pure alcohol. 
• Based on the 2022 Epidemiologic Profile on Nevada Alcohol Use by Behavioral Health Wellness and Prevention, the prevalence of AUD in the past year among individuals aged 12 and older in Nevada was as follows: 

• The 2022 Nevada Behavioral Health Epidemiologic Profile reports that the prevalence of AUD among adolescents and adults in Nevada increased from 6.0% in 2019 to 10.2% in 2020. 
• According to the Nevada 2022 State Report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the average age of initiation of alcohol addiction in Nevada is 16.1 years. 
• According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), more than half of Nevada adults reported consuming alcohol in the past month. However, the proportion of individuals aged 12 and older who reported alcohol use in the past month declined from 54.47% in 2008-2009 to 50.92% in 2015-2016. 

• According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 16% of adults aged 18 and older in Nevada engage in binge drinking at least once a month. 

• The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics also reports that the median number of drinks consumed per binge is 5.5, while the top 25% of binge drinkers consume a median of 7.8 drinks per session. On average, binge drinkers in Nevada engage in binge drinking 1.6 times per month, with the most frequent binge drinkers doing so 3.7 times monthly. 
• According to America’s Health Rankings, in Nevada, 16.5% of females aged 18-44 reported binge drinking or heavy drinking in 2021-2022. 

Age-Based Prevalence of Alcohol Use in Nevada

• According to America’s Health Rankings, in Nevada, 10.3% of adults aged 65 and older reported binge drinking or heavy drinking in 2022. 
• According to the 2022 Epidemiologic Profile on Nevada Alcohol Use by Behavioral Health Wellness and Prevention, alcohol consumption patterns among Nevada high school students are as follows: 

• According to the 2022 Nevada Behavioral Health Epidemiologic Profile:
  • In 2021, 19.3% of high school students reported current alcohol use, a notable decrease from 26.5% in 2017. 
  • Nevada’s rural region — which includes Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Pershing, and White Pine Counties — reported 29.3% of high school students currently using alcohol in 2021, a rate significantly higher than the state average.
  • Among Nevada middle school students, the percentage of students who reported ever drinking alcohol dropped from 29.2% in 2019 to 21.7% in 2021. 
  • The percentage of middle school students who reported current alcohol use decreased from 11.7% in 2019 to 6.4% in 2021.
• According to the NSDUH (2021-2022), the annual average number of individuals in Nevada aged 12 and older who reported alcohol use in the past month categorized by age group is as follows:

Health and Social Consequences Related to Alcohol Addiction in Nevada

• The 2022 Nevada Behavioral Health Epidemiologic Profile indicates that in 2020, 37.5% of Nevada adolescents viewed consuming 5 or more drinks once or twice a week as risky, compared to 43.0% nationwide. 

Alcohol-Related Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits in Nevada

• According to the 2022 Nevada Behavioral Health Epidemiologic Profile, there were a total of 69,452 alcohol- and drug-related emergency department (ED) visits in Nevada in 2021. Among these, 15,550 cases had alcohol intoxication as the primary diagnosis. 
• According to the Department of Health and Human Services:
  • In each quarter of 2021, Nevada emergency rooms recorded approximately 8,600 alcohol-related visits and 9,300 drug-related visits. 
  • In any given quarter of 2021, Nevada hospitals recorded approximately 5,300 alcohol-related inpatient admissions and 8,400 drug-related inpatient admissions. 

Alcohol-Related Crime and Violence in Nevada

• According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), around 65% of incarcerated individuals in Nevada have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder, while another 20% were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time they committed their crime. 
• According to the Nevada 2022 State Report by SAMHSA, there were 12 fatalities in 2022 involving a 15- to 20-year-old driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) greater than 0.01%, which accounted for 27% of all fatal crashes. 

Alcohol-Related Deaths in Nevada

• According to Nevada’s Department of Health and Human Services, the state recorded 804 alcohol-related deaths in 2020 and a preliminary count of 776 alcohol-related deaths in 2021. 
• The Department of Health and Human Services also reports that in Nevada, the number of unintentional or undetermined overdose deaths involving alcohol was 80 in 2019. It increased to 97 in 2020. 
• According to the Nevada 2022 State Report:
  • There were 37 alcohol-attributable deaths among individuals under 21.
  • The years of potential life lost (YPLL) due to these deaths totaled 2,125 years.
• According to CDC estimates, excessive alcohol consumption results in 38,880 years of potential life lost annually in Nevada. 

• According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for an average of 1,548 deaths annually in Nevada. From 2015 to 2019, the 5-year average annual per capita rate of alcohol-related deaths increased by 46.2%. 
• The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics reports that Nevada experiences 1 alcohol-related death for every 2,006 adults aged 18 and older, translating to 6.43 deaths per 10,000 adults. The demographic details of these deaths are as follows:
  • Males account for 68.6% of deaths due to excessive alcohol use.
  • Chronic causes, such as AUD, contribute to 61.5% of alcohol-related fatalities.
  • Adults aged 35 and older comprise 86.6% of these deaths.
  • Individuals under 21 make up 2.39% of alcohol-related fatalities.

Financial Impact of Alcohol Use in Nevada

• The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics states that in 2010, excessive alcohol use cost Nevada taxpayers $2.296 billion. When adjusted for inflation, this is equivalent to $3.1 billion in 2022, equating to a cost of $2.01 per alcoholic drink. 

Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Nevada

• From 2019 to 2021, at adult state-funded substance abuse treatment centers in Nevada, alcohol was the primary substance for 13% of total admissions as reported by the 2022 Nevada Behavioral Health Epidemiologic Profile. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Most Common Drugs in Nevada?

The most common drugs in Nevada include alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and prescription opioids. 

How Does Nevada Define Alcohol?

Nevada defines alcohol as ethanol (ethyl alcohol), spirits, wine, beer, and any liquid or solid containing ethanol capable of human consumption. This includes distilled spirits, fermented beverages, and mixtures containing alcohol. The definition aligns with state laws regulating alcohol production, distribution, and consumption.

What Are the Drinking Laws in Nevada?

In Nevada, the minimum age for purchasing or consuming alcohol is 21. Individuals under 21 are prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or consuming alcohol in public places. While the majority of Nevada permits alcohol sales, the town of Panaca remains a dry municipality. Operating a vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or higher is illegal. For drivers under 21, the BAC limit is 0.02%. Driving under the influence (DUI) carries severe penalties, including license suspension, fines, and potential imprisonment. Learn more in our article on Nevada DUI Statistics and Rates.