November 10, 2026
One of the deadliest drugs in the United States isn’t often what gets headlines but is ubiquitous in society. Alcohol is responsible for an estimated 187,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, yet because drinking is culturally ingrained, its health risks are often underestimated.
Drawing on STAT’s recent investigation, “The Deadliest Drug,” health reporter Isabella Cueto takes a close look at alcohol consumption in the U.S. Her research unveils a striking contradiction: Self-reported drinking is at its lowest level in decades, yet alcohol-related harm remains substantial, including among people who don’t fit traditional perceptions of someone with a substance use problem.
Cueto explores the details, including gaps in screening and early intervention, the intersection of alcohol use and metabolic health and disparities affecting women, among others, to explain what this means for employers. She also shares that the normalization of drinking can make unhealthy alcohol use harder to recognize and address.
Tune in for a deeper perspective on how emerging research into GLP-1s and psychedelics shows potential benefits for treating addiction, plus today’s treatment approaches. The conversation gives benefits leaders new insights and understanding of an often-overlooked and underestimated health risk and what it means for workforce health and benefits strategy.
SPEAKERS
Isabella Cueto | Chronic Disease Reporter, STAT; co-author of The Deadliest Drug
LuAnn Heinen | Business Group on Health
Duration 33 min
