An average of 6 people die of alcohol poisoning each day. Source image from CDC

American Indians and Alaska Natives suffer from the highest rate of alcohol poisoning deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report on Tuesday.

An annual average of 2,221 alcohol poisoning deaths, or 8.8 deaths per 1 million population, occurred between 2010 and 2012, according to the report. But the rate among American Indians and Alaska Natives was far higher -- 49.1 deaths per 1 million.

"The high alcohol poisoning death rate among American Indians/Alaska Natives also is consistent with the high binge drinking intensity that has been reported by binge drinkers in this population," the CDC said. "A recent study found that American Indians/Alaska Natives were seven times more likely to die from alcohol poisoning than whites, reflecting both the higher intensity of binge drinking among binge drinkers in this population and other factors, such as geographic isolation and reduced access to medical care."

Among states, Alaska (46.5 deaths per 1 million) and New Mexico (32.6 deaths per 1 million) had the highest rates of alcohol poisoning deaths. The states are also home to the largest percentages of American Indians and Alaska Natives -- Alaska with 14.7 percent and New Mexico with 10.4 percent.

Get the Story:
Alcohol Poisoning Kills 6 Americans a Day, a Federal Report Finds (The New York Times 1/7)

Get the Report:
Alcohol Poisoning Deaths (January 2015)