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Adult Alcohol Use

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Percent of Adults Reporting Any Use of Alcohol in the Past 30 Days, All Available Years: by Age and Region

200420102015
Minnesota18-2454.6%51.4%50.1%
25-4466.4%62.8%59.7%
45-6462.7%59.5%56.9%
65 and older42.3%40.9%45.7%
All Ages59.8%56.7%55.2%
East Central18-2455.7%40.7%*
25-4465.5%61.5%*
45-6464.4%59.1%*
65 and older39.8%40.4%*
All Ages60.7%54.8%*
Metro18-2452.4%52.1%48.8%
25-4467.6%64.2%60.0%
45-6465.3%62.1%58.4%
65 and older45.1%43.4%49.0%
All Ages61.5%59.3%56.3%
Northwest18-2462.6%55.4%*
25-4462.7%53.9%*
45-6453.0%51.6%*
65 and older39.1%37.4%*
All Ages54.8%49.6%*
Northeast18-2460.5%56.9%*
25-4462.0%68.0%*
45-6460.3%53.8%*
65 and older39.9%40.3%*
All Ages57.3%55.8%*
Southeast18-2448.2%51.8%*
25-4461.7%60.2%*
45-6462.5%59.1%*
65 and older43.6%37.4%*
All Ages56.7%54.7%*
Southwest18-2466.2%52.1%*
25-4468.2%56.5%*
45-6457.8%54.5%*
65 and older35.3%36.6%*
All Ages58.4%50.9%*
West Central18-2456.0%53.2%*
25-4467.0%67.3%*
45-6457.0%56.3%*
65 and older41.7%42.8%*
All Ages57.0%56.1%*

About the Indicator: Alcohol is the most frequently used drug nationally and statewide, and is associated with a number of adverse health consequences1. Reported use of alcohol in the past 30 days is a common measure of recent alcohol use. N/R indicates that there were No Responses within the particular demographic.

Reported past 30 day alcohol use has been higher in Minnesota than the national average. According to the 2010/2011 National Surveys on Drug Use in Health, 59.5% of Minnesotans ages 12 and older reported past 30 day use as compared to 51.8% nationally (rate ratio: 1.15). According to the 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 64% of adults ages 18 and older reports past 30 day alcohol use compared to 57% nationally (rate ratio: 1.11). For more information, see the Minnesota State Epidemiological Profile, also accessible from the SUMN.org home page.

1Dawson DA, Grant BF, Li T-K. "Quantifying the risks associated with exceeding recommended drinking limits." Alcohol Clinical Experimental Research. 2005; 29:902-908.

Data Source: Minnesota Survey of Adult Substance Use (MNSASU)

Description: The Minnesota Survey on Adult Substance Use is conducted to obtain current estimates of the number of adults in the general population in Minnesota who are abusing or dependent on alcohol or other drugs and are in need of treatment. The prevalence of substance abuse and dependence and need for treatment were assessed for the total population, and by region, race and ethnicity, gender, age group, and sexual orientation.  The population for this survey included Minnesota residents 18 years of age or older and non-institutionalized.

Sponsored by: Minnesota Department of Human Services, Performance Measurement and Quality Improvement

Geographic Level: State, Region. 

Frequency: The most recent survey was conducted in 2015; previous surveys were conducted in 2010 and 2004.

Characteristics: The sample was stratified by region, and African Americans, American Indians, Latinos, Hmong and other Asian Americans were over-sampled to ensure adequate numbers of respondents to provide reliable estimates for these sub-groups. The survey instrument included demographic information, diagnostic measures of abuse of and dependence on alcohol or drugs, use of treatment services, depression, serious mental illness and body weight. These data are self-reported.