This indicator shows the average annual age-adjusted hospitalization rate due to acute or chronic alcohol abuse per 10,000 population aged 18 years and older. "Alcohol abuse" includes alcohol dependence syndrome, nondependent alcohol abuse, alcoholic psychoses, excessive blood level of alcohol, and fetal alcohol syndrome.

Drinking alcohol has immediate effects that can increase the risk of many harmful health conditions. According to the CDC, excessive alcohol use, either in the form of heavy drinking (drinking more than two drinks per day on average for men or more than one drink per day on average for women), or binge drinking (drinking more than 4 drinks during a single occasion for men or more than 3 drinks during a single occasion for women), can lead to increased risk of health problems such as liver disease or unintentional injuries. There are approximately 75,000 deaths attributable to excessive alcohol use each year in the United States. This makes excessive alcohol use the 3rd leading lifestyle-related cause of death for the nation. In the single year 2003, there were over 2 million hospitalizations and over 4 million emergency room visits for alcohol-related conditions.