Illinois Health Agency Releases First-Ever Alcohol Use Report

The Illinois Department of Public Health has released its first-ever comprehensive report on alcohol use among adults and teens in Illinois. According to the report, nearly 23% of high school students reported consuming at least one alcoholic beverage in the past 30 days, with 28% of female students and 17% of male students drinking.

Binge drinking was reported by 15% of female high school students and 8% of male students. Among adults, 57% reported consuming at least one alcoholic beverage in the past month, while more than 18% acknowledged binge drinking.

The report highlights a concerning trend within the LGBTQ+ community, where nearly 23% reported binge drinking compared to 17% of heterosexual individuals. Leslie Wise, an opioid epidemiologist and co-author of the report, noted that peer pressure is a significant factor contributing to binge drinking among female high schoolers.

The report also indicates a rise in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes, with fatalities involving alcohol rising from 33% in 2019 to 37% in 2022. Additionally, from 2020 to 2023, over 2,300 deaths in Illinois were directly linked to chronic alcohol use, with another 2,000 deaths indirectly associated with alcohol-related health issues.

Wise emphasized the need for awareness and conversations about alcohol use, especially among parents of teenagers, to help reduce these alarming statistics. The report aims to provide a foundation for developing targeted, evidence-based programs to address these public health challenges posed by alcohol misuse across the state.