SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Chambana Today) — The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has issued its first-ever comprehensive report on alcohol use in the state. Entitled “Alcohol Use in Illinois,” the report examines data from multiple sources, including the Illinois Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) and the Illinois Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YBRS), to assess the health and societal impacts of alcohol.

“This report provides the most detailed picture to date of how alcohol use and misuse affect the health and safety of Illinois residents,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “By leveraging this data, public health professionals and community partners can develop targeted, evidence-based programs to reduce alcohol-related harms and promote healthier behaviors.”

The report revealed several concerning trends:

• Nearly 23% of Illinois high schoolers reported drinking in the past 30 days, with more than 11% admitting to binge drinking.

• Among adults, 57% had consumed alcohol in the past 30 days, with 18% binge drinking. Younger adults, particularly those aged 18-24, had higher rates of binge drinking at 25%.

• Alcohol consumption and binge drinking were more common among men than women in the adult population.

• Higher-income individuals were more likely to consume alcohol, with 69% of those making more than $75,000 annually reporting drinking in the past month.

• LGBTQ+ individuals had a higher reported rate of binge drinking (23%) compared to their heterosexual counterparts (17%).

• Alcohol-related traffic fatalities have risen since 2019, with 37% of fatal crashes in 2022 involving a driver with alcohol in their system.

• From 2020 to 2023, over 2,300 deaths in Illinois were attributed to chronic alcohol use, including liver disease and alcohol dependency, with an additional 2,000 deaths linked to alcohol-related health conditions.

The report also highlighted significant regional variations in alcohol-related deaths, with the Peoria region experiencing the highest rate of deaths from alcohol-related liver disease.

The data from this report will be used by public health officials to inform targeted interventions aimed at reducing alcohol misuse and its negative impacts on the community.