Quitting alcohol can be deadly

Studies show more than 88,000 people die from alcohol related causes each year in the U.S. That's more than opioids. But another study shows quitting alcohol can be deadly, too.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention counted 831 deaths in 2016 that could be characterized as related to alcohol withdrawal. About 16 million people in the United States have "alcohol use disorder", which the National Institutes of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism define as "compulsive alcohol use, loss of control over alcohol intake, and a negative emotional state when not using."

On the Factor to talk about this is Dr. Huma Kausar, emergency medicine specialist, and Dr. Ezemenari Obasi, professor of counseling psychology at the University of Houston.