Southern California Statistics and Information on Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Males
According to data from the CDPH, from 2017 to 2021, men consistently reported higher rates of past 30-day alcohol use and binge drinking compared to women. However, heavy drinking rates were similar between genders. In 2021, 59% of men drank alcohol in the past 30 days, 19% engaged in binge drinking, and 6% reported heavy drinking.
Alcohol is linked to increased injury, violence, and harm, with men facing higher rates of alcohol-related hospitalizations and fatalities, according to the CDC. Men account for approximately two-thirds of the nearly 120,000 annual alcohol-related deaths in the U.S. Additionally, men are 50% more likely than women to be intoxicated in fatal motor vehicle crashes. According to SAMHSA, while 65.4% of those in treatment for substance use disorders are men, women are more likely to pursue treatment for sedative dependence, including anti-anxiety and sleep medications.