deaths in the U.S. Every year, more# people die of alcohol-rela than drug overdoses.

But problems# with alcohol often go overlooked.

William Brangham looks at how# this is affecting the western## part of the country, and one state in particular.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: While alcohol is problematic# everywhere, Colorado has one of of alcohol-related deaths in the country.

Drinking# deaths in the state spiked 60 percent between 2018## and 2021.

In 2022, more than 1,500 people# in the state died from excessive drinking,## a slight decline from earlier, but that is# still 50 percent above pre-pandemic levels.

When you also take into account deaths from# chronic long-term conditions related to alcohol,## the death toll doubles, a number that far# exceeds the deaths from opioids.

But as## The Denver Post reported in a new four-part# series, alcohol has not been treated with the## same urgency as opioids.

That series# is called "Colorado's Quiet Killer."

And reporter Meg Wingerter joins me now.

Meg, thank you so much for being here.

Your series is titled the "Quiet# Killer."

Why do you refe MEG WINGERTER, The Denver Post: It's quiet in the# sense that it hasn't generated much attention.

We hear about the number of people who are dying# of opioids, which, of course, is a massive killer## that we need to pay attention to.

But there's# not really the awareness that alcohol can also## be deadly.

When I was writing this series and# interviewing people, other than people who## specifically study alcohol, there was just not# really this awareness that the death toll could## be anything comparable, because, well, I mean,# it's not something people talk about very much.

Most -- many people would really rather# not admit if excessive drinking was## what killed their loved one.

So we# just don't have the conversation.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: When we talk about# categorizing deaths from alcohol,## can you break those down for us?

Are# we talking about accidents where people## are intoxicated?

Is this chronic# conditions?

What are these deaths?

MEG WINGERTER: I'm glad you asked that,# because, when I was interviewing people,## often, what would come up is, they# would assume that this was a of people dying in crashes or young people# drinking themselves to death in one ni But what it is mostly is longer-term conditions,# a lot of liver disease, some cancers, some heart## conditions, deaths by suicide where people# were intoxicated at the time, which makes you## more impulsive, more likely to follow through# in suicide if you were having those thoughts.

So it does look different than what# people expect.

Accidents are a problem,## but they're not the biggest source of the problem.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Are there things# that public health experts told mi ght help for the state to do# to help bring MEG WINGERTER: Well, there's no one magic thing# that, if we do this, it will bring -- make a huge## impact on deaths, but there are a lot# of small things that can nudge people.

When alcohol taxes go up, people tend to somewhat# reduce their consumption.

When alcohol is not## as convenient, people also will tend to drink a# little bit less.

There are cultural things, trying## to give people alternatives and kind of normalize# events where drinking isn't at the center of it.

Now, none of those is going# to completely fix the problem,## but they each kind of give people a nudge# toward reducing their consum over time, adds up to fewer people# developing these chronic conditions.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: I mean, alcohol, as your# reporting shows, is so ingrained in our culture.

Even though we are in the middle of Dry January,## I mean, it's kind of notable that we even# have a m a culture.

Were you surprised overall by# the things that you found in your series?

MEG WINGERTER: Yes.

I had actually just kind of lo oked at those, and that seemed high,# compared it to the overdoses.

But as I## started talking to people more about the number of# conditions that it's involved in, it makes sense.

The odds an average drinker will die# from alcohol are much lower than the## odds an average illicit fentanyl user will# die from the substance they're using.

But so## many people drink that it then adds# up to this very large toll.

And it## is uncomfortable to talk about in a way that# illicit drugs are not, because so many of us## enjoy having a drink and don't necessarily# want to hear that it could be a problem.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: All right, that# is Meg Wingerter of The Denver Post.

Thank you so much for sharing# your reporting with us.

MEG WINGERTER: Thank you for having me.