Hazardous drinking
The 2019/20 New Zealand Health Survey showed that around 838,000 adults (or 20.9% of the population aged 15 years+) were classified as hazardous drinkers. Almost one-third (32.4%) of 18-24 year olds adults were classified as hazardous drinkers.
Many of these will be at risk of having or developing an alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol use disorders
There is a lack of information on the number of New Zealanders with a diagnosis of alcohol use disorders.
In 2006, it was estimated that just over 4% of the population in their lifetime will experience alcohol addiction and 11% will experience alcohol abuse.
In 2016, it was found that 4.2% of the population reported symptoms of alcohol abuse (2.6%) or dependence (1.3%) in the past year. This equates to over 100,000 New Zealanders.
Note that alcohol abuse and dependence have been combined in the DSM5 to become alcohol use disorders, read more here.