New Jersey Alcohol Addiction Statistics

Alcohol addiction is a significant issue in New Jersey that affects individuals and communities across the state. 

It has far-reaching consequences, including health problems, financial burdens, and social issues impacting not only those who struggle with addiction but also their families and communities. 

This article highlights key statistics that reveal the extent of alcohol addiction in New Jersey. 

Key Takeaways:

• 14.4% of New Jersey adults over 18 binge drink at least once a month, with an average of 5.2 drinks per binge.
• In 2021, 23% of high school students drank alcohol in the last 30 days. Females reported higher alcohol usage at 27% while 19% of males reported alcohol consumption.
• Excessive alcohol consumption accounts for an average of 3,008 deaths annually in New Jersey. 54.8% of these deaths occurred due to chronic alcohol use in 2019. 
• The 5-year average annual rate of alcohol-related deaths per capita in New Jersey increased by 42.8% from 2015 to 2019.
• In 2022, 31,807 individuals were admitted for alcohol addiction treatment in New Jersey. This represents 37% of all substance use treatment admissions, with 30.6% being female and 69.4% male.

General Insights

Here are some general statistics about alcohol addiction in New Jersey:

• According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 14.4% of adults in New Jersey over the age of 18 binge drink at least once a month. On average, each binge involves 5.2 drinks, but the top 25% of drinkers consume about 7.3 drinks per binge. This group also binges 3.5 times per month.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 15.8% of people in New Jersey engaged in binge drinking in 2022. 
• The CDC also reports that excessive alcohol consumption cost New Jersey taxpayers $6.175 billion in 2010. When adjusted for inflation, this amount equals $8.337 billion or $2.30 per drink in 2022.
• A study conducted on 969,788 people from New Jersey who were discharged from substance use treatment in 2018 examined the participants’ alcohol use status. It found that the prevalence of alcohol use was 17.7% for those aged 25-49, 9.5% for individuals over 50, and 2.2% for the 12-24 age group.

• In the same study as above, the prevalence of alcohol use was 22.9% for Black or African Americans, 0.2% for Alaska Natives, 0.4% for American Indians, 5.9% for Asians or Pacific Islanders, and 0.1% for Whites.

• According to America’s Health Rankings 2022, in New Jersey, 16.9% of adults reported binge drinking (four or more drinks for females or five or more drinks for males on one occasion over the past 30 days) or heavy drinking (eight or more drinks per week for females or 15 or more drinks per week for males). 
• As per America’s Health Rankings, the trend of people reporting binge drinking or heavy drinking over the years is as follows:

• In 2021, 23% of high school students reported consuming alcohol within the last 30 days, according to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Report for 2011-2021. Among them, females were disproportionately higher at risk of consuming alcohol at 27% compared to 19% of males. In 2011, 38% of female and 39% of male high school students reported consuming alcohol within the last 30 days. 

Alcohol-Related Deaths in New Jersey

Alcohol abuse harms multiple organs, such as the liver, brain, and heart, which can lead to death. Here are some statistics on alcohol-related deaths in New Jersey:

• The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics reports that excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for an average of 3,008 deaths annually in New Jersey. 54.8% of these deaths are due to long-term alcohol abuse.
• The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics indicates that the five-year average annual rate of alcohol-related deaths per capita in New Jersey rose by 42.8% from 2015 to 2019. 
• On average, there is one death from excessive alcohol use for every 3,088 residents aged 18 and over, or 4.14 deaths per 10,000 adults in New Jersey, as per the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. 
• According to the CDC, New Jersey experiences an average of 1,754 alcohol-related deaths annually. An average of 50,856 potential years of life were lost between 2020 and 2021. 

Effects of Alcohol Addiction in New Jersey

Alcohol addiction has far-reaching consequences. Here are some statistics to highlight those:

• The CDC reports that between 2020 and 2021, New Jersey had 654 incidents of alcohol-related poisoning, 218 alcohol-involved traffic accidents, and 142 suicide cases.
• There were 766 cases of harmful effects of long-term alcohol use reported by the CDC in 2020:

• In 2013, New Jersey had an alcohol-related arrest rate of 442 per 100,000 residents. The types of crime involved were:
  • Larceny, with 291 arrests per 100,000 people
  • Driving under the influence, with 282 arrests per 100,000 people
  • Other types of assaults, with 261 arrests per 100,000 people

Alcohol Addiction Treatment in New Jersey

Alcohol addiction treatment statistics for New Jersey include:

• According to New Jersey’s Substance Use Overview 2022 Statewide report, 31,807 people were admitted for treatment due to alcohol addiction in 2022, accounting for 37% of all substance use treatment admissions. 

• A 2018 Cureus study on 969,788 people discharged from alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment facilities found that people aged 15-17 have a 1.38 times higher chance of getting AUD treatment than those aged 12-24. Also, those older than 50 have a 2.25 times higher chance of getting AUD treatment compared to the 12-24 age group.
• According to the New Jersey Chartbook of Substance Abuse Related Social Indicators 2016, in 2014, the main substances abused by those seeking treatment in New Jersey were heroin/other opiates at 46% and alcohol at 25%. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Legal Limit for Alcohol in New Jersey?

To purchase, possess, or consume alcohol in New Jersey, you must be at least 21 years old. The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers is 0.08%. For commercial drivers, the limit is 0.04%, and for drivers under 21, the limit is 0.01%. 

Is Drunk Driving a Crime in New Jersey?

Drunk driving in New Jersey is a traffic offense, not a criminal charge. It is considered a “quasi-criminal” offense, meaning it carries most of the same protections of a criminal charge but does not allow for a jury trial. Drunk driving convictions do not count as criminal convictions.

Does New Jersey Have a Drug Problem?

Yes, 6.1% of New Jersey residents reported experiencing some form of substance use disorder as per the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s data for 2021. The most commonly abused substances are alcohol, heroin, and marijuana. Read more about marijuana addiction statistics for New Jersey here. 

Data Sources

1. https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmhas/publications/statistical/Substance%20Abuse%20Overview/2022/Statewide.pdf

2. https://drugabusestatistics.org/alcohol-abuse-statistics/#new-jersey

3. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/data-stats.htm

4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10492633/#REF2

5. https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmhas/publications/epidemiological/County%20Chart%20Books/2016/Mercer.pdf

6. https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/measures/ExcessDrink/NJ

7. https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/dstr/pdf/YRBS_Data-Summary-Trends_Report2023_508.pdf

8. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt32847/NewJersey-BH-Barometer_Volume6.pdf