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Developing Novel Therapies to Enable Life Unburdened by Alcohol & Drug Abuse

Alcohol Use Disorder Prevalence, Mortality, and Economic Impact

Adults with AUD in US
30M
>10% of US adults (12-month prevalence 2021)1
Increase of AUD in women
84%
35% increase among men during same 10 year period2
Increase in deaths from chronic health issues
32%
Over 117k deaths in 20213
Increase in acute death
24%
over 61k deaths in 20214
Annual economic cost
$249B
Loss of workplace productivity, healthcare costs, and criminal justice (est 2010)5
Annual healthcare costs
$104B
Attributed to alcohol-related health care in US6
WHY WE CREATED SOPHROSYNE

The Problem to Solve – AUD Causes Health, Economic, and Societal Havoc in the U.S. and Around the World

Very large addressable market

  • Approximately 30 million people in the U.S.
  • Approximately 400 million people globally7
  • Significant rise in AUD among women

Health impact on the individual and community

  • 3rd leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality8
  • Estimated 200k alcohol related deaths per year in the U.S.9
  • Approximately 15k alcohol related traffic deaths per year in the U.S10
  • More than 100K alcohol related cancer deaths per year11
  • Leading cause of liver disease

Economic burden on society

  • Total cost-burden estimated to exceed $300 Billion per year in U.S.
  • 232 million missed work-days annualy in the U.S.12
  • Criminal justice alcohol related expenditure estimated to exceed $100 Billion per year - more than 1 million DUI arrests per year in U.S.13

COMPANY UPDATES

Read the latest from Sophrosyne.

All updates
Sophrosyne Pharmaceuticals Appoints Herman Cukier as CEO
Aug 26, 2025|Press Release
Sophrosyne Corporate Deck
Aug 26, 2025|Corporate Info

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References:

  1. https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp.20230488?utm
  2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7362573/?utm
  3. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/facts-stats/index.html
  4. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics-z/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-related-emergencies-and-deaths-united-states
  5. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-alcohol-adverse-impact-health
  6. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/excessive-drinking-data/index.html
  7. https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/41287/1/Global%20status%20report%20on%20alcohol%20and%20health%20and%20treatment%20of%20substance%20use%20disorders.pdf
  8. https://www.apha.org/policy-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-briefs/policy-database/2020/01/14/addressing-alcohol-related-harms-a-population-level-response?utm
  9. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics-z/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-related-emergencies-and-deaths-united-states
  10. https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-alcohol-impaired-driving?utm
  11. https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/medical-advances/science-and-research/Does-Alcohol-Cause-Cancer?utm
  12. https://movendi.ngo/science-digest/alcohol-use-disorder-linked-to-over-232-million-missed-work-days-every-year-in-the-usa/?utm
  13. https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(11)00538-1/fulltext