Alcohol has considerable toxic effects on the digestive and cardiovascular systems. Alcoholic beverages are classified as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and increase the risk of several cancer types. Alcohol as an immunosuppressant increases the risk of communicable diseases, including tuberculosis and HIV. Many people with alcohol problems and their family members find that participating in support groups is an essential part of coping with the disease, preventing or dealing with relapses, and staying sober.
Finding the Right Addiction Treatment Program
Mutual-support groups provide peer support for stopping or reducing drinking. Group meetings are available in most communities at low or no cost, and at convenient times and locations—including an increasing presence online. This means they can be especially helpful to individuals at risk for relapse to drinking. Combined with medications and behavioral treatment provided by health care professionals, mutual-support groups can offer a valuable added layer of support. If you feel that you sometimes drink too much alcohol, or your drinking is causing problems, or if your family is concerned about your drinking, talk with your health care provider.
What are the complications of this condition?
This could help explain why women are more likely to have negative effects from alcohol. Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby, and the risk increases the more you drink. The first is to help stop withdrawal symptoms and is given in reducing doses over a short period of time. This often leads to “relief drinking” to avoid withdrawal symptoms. You may want to take a family member or friend along, if possible. Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
Care at Mayo Clinic
Your health care provider or counselor can suggest a support group. You’re likely to start by seeing your primary health care provider. If your provider suspects that you have a problem with alcohol, you may be referred to a mental health provider. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism alcohol misuse (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08%—or 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter—or more. This typically happens if a woman has four or more drinks, or a man has five or more drinks, within about two hours.
This is of particular concern when you’re taking certain medications that also depress the brain’s function. If your pattern of drinking results in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life, you likely have alcohol use disorder. However, even a mild disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important. Unhealthy alcohol use includes any alcohol use that puts your health or safety at risk or causes other alcohol-related problems. It also includes binge drinking — a pattern of drinking where a male has five or more drinks within two hours or a female has at least four drinks within two hours. Support in recovery and continuity of care are essential during this vulnerable time.
Other chronic diseases
If you’re trying to conceive, your partner should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, which should be spread evenly over 3 days or more. The second is a medicine to reduce any urge you may have to drink. The most common medicines used for this are acamprosate and naltrexone. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Here I highlight important work being done at NIDA and other news related to the science of drug use and addiction. “They basically blunt the absorption of alcohol and spread it out over time so you don’t get those peaks that get you really dizzy or uncoordinated,” Koob says.
- One alcoholic drink is defined as a 12-ounce bottle of beer; a 5-ounce glass of wine; or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (such as whiskey, rum, or tequila).
- If you’re trying to conceive, your partner should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, which should be spread evenly over 3 days or more.
- It can also lead to serious symptoms like seizures, fever, or hallucinations, and can be a medical emergency.
- It can be life-threatening, causing serious medical issues like seizures and hallucinations that require immediate medical care.
Riptides can be dangerous even when not intoxicated – riptides in Alabama and Florida killed 10 people in just two weeks in June 2023. Alcohol slows down your brain, bodily functions and reaction time, so when intoxicated you may have a harder time getting yourself out of a potentially deadly situation. “You definitely should not get behind the wheel of a car, get in a boat to go boating or go swimming if you have a blood alcohol at the legal limits,” Koob says.
This report highlights 2022 statistics on substance use, mental health, and treatment in the United States. These national indicators are measured among people aged 12 or older in the civilian, noninstitutionalized population. Estimates are presented by age group and by race/ethnicity for selected measures. For example, any alcohol consumption by a pregnant person can be considered alcohol misuse, as well as drinking under the legal age of 21.
How do I take care of myself?
- The Global status report on alcohol and health and treatment of substance use disorders presents a comprehensive overview of alcohol consumption, alcohol-related…
- These researchers are poised to share new evidence as it emerges that will help other communities make data-driven changes so they can implement what is most efficient in justice settings.
- NIAAA can help people find information and resources about AUD and treatments that might work best for them.
- Alcohol use often co-occurs with the usage of other substances, such as tobacco, marijuana, and illicit drugs.
- Some prescription medicines can treat alcohol misuse by helping people stop or reduce their drinking.