science
Alcohol Use During Pregnancy Reported by More Than 1 in 8 U.S. Adults
Government data analyzed by STAT show that more than 1 in 8 pregnant adults drank alcohol in the past month. One-quarter of those who drank reported binge drinking. Rates began rising about ten years ago after decades of decline.
May 24, 3:31 PM·1m read1 source
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More than 1 in 8 pregnant adults in the United States reported drinking alcohol in the past month, according to STAT’s analysis of 2024 government data. Of those who drank, one-quarter reported having four or more drinks in one sitting during the prior month. The analysis found alcohol use in pregnancy more common than gestational diabetes.
Rates of alcohol use during pregnancy fell for about 50 years before beginning to rise roughly a decade ago. U.S. rate remains lower than rates reported in several peer nations.
Alcohol exposure before birth is described as a leading driver of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Recent federally funded studies estimate that as many as 1 in 20 school-aged children may have such a disorder. U.S. children. Researchers note that not every exposure results in measurable effects, but every diagnosed case traces to prenatal alcohol.
Danielle Campbell, who lives in Birmingham, Alabama, said her desire to drink ended immediately upon becoming pregnant after nearly a decade of alcohol use. She attributed the change to protective instincts toward her child.
