Heavy drinking is associated with a number of chronic health conditions, including chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, gastrointestinal cancers, heart disease, stroke, pancreatitis, depression, and a variety of social problems (Naimi, 2003).

In 2005, heavy drinking was reported by 6.6 percent of the population aged 12 or older, or 16 million people. This percentage is similar to the rates of heavy drinking in 2002 (6.7 percent), 2003 (6.8 percent), and 2004 (6.9 percent).

The rate of heavy alcohol use was 41.9 percent for young adults aged 18 to 25.  These rates are similar to the rates in 2002, 2003, and 2004.

The rate of heavy drinking among persons aged 65 or older was 1.7 percent.