Health Effects
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Friday, August 28 2026
By System Admin,
Friday, August 28 2026
Common at parties, tailgates and other social gatherings, the combination of energy drinks and alcohol can increase the risk of alcohol poisoning, injury and impaired judgment. Caffeine in energy drinks acts as a stimulant, while alcohol is a depressant. Together, they can affect how people perceive the effects of alcohol. Students may feel "less drunk" than they actually are, leading them to drink more alcohol than they otherwise would. As a result, alcohol-related harms become more likely.
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Tuesday, August 18 2026
By System Admin,
Tuesday, August 18 2026
Alcohol-related deaths have increased substantially over the last half century, with marked differences emerging by gender, geography, race, and age. The sharpest increases in death rates were among women, residents of the Midwest, White individuals, and people aged 65 and older, according to a study. Deaths among women have risen by 56 percent, a narrowing of the gender gap, particularly in the last 20 years, coinciding with the development of products and marketing targeted to women.
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Saturday, July 11 2026
By System Admin,
Saturday, July 11 2026
Alcohol-related deaths have increased substantially over the last half century, with marked differences emerging by gender, geography, race, and age. The sharpest increases in death rates were among women, residents of the Midwest, White individuals, and people aged 65 and older, according to a study. Economic conditions and local alcohol policies may contribute to these trends and could play an important role in reversing them. Read more...
Friday, June 12 2026
By System Admin,
Friday, June 12 2026
Even what many Americans consider moderate drinking is linked to an increased risk of death, disability, and chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease, according to a new study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, published at Rutgers University. The new research, called the Alcohol Intake and Health Study -- initially commissioned by the U.S. federal government to inform development of the new U.S. Dietary Guidelines -- found a mortality risk from alcohol of 1 in 25 for people who consumed an average of 14 drinks per week. In contrast, drinking up to 7 drinks per week was associated with only minimally elevated risks for most conditions.
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Friday, May 29 2026
By System Admin,
Friday, May 29 2026
A new study from the University of Chicago Medicine reveals that people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and depression experience high levels of stimulation and pleasure when intoxicated, similar to drinkers who do not have depression. The findings counter the long-held belief that the pleasure people experience when drinking alcohol decreases with addiction and that drinking to intoxication is mainly to reduce negative feelings as a form of self-medication. The research challenges conventional notions about alcohol’s effects in depressed people who drink excessively and could improve treatment approaches by focusing medication and behavioral approaches more on alcohol's pleasure reward pathways and less on stress-responsive systems.
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Wednesday, May 27 2026
By System Admin,
Wednesday, May 27 2026
Teens who were exposed to alcohol in utero are more likely than their peers to engage in risky behaviors—most notably, hazardous drinking and underage sex, a combination that could perpetuate the intergenerational transmission of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). The children born to mothers who reported binge drinking in pregnancy were more likely than others to engage in underage sexual activity before age 16 (34% higher odds) and reported a slightly higher number of risky behaviors overall. Higher counts of risky behaviors are linked to increased illness over the lifetime and earlier death. Read more...
Saturday, May 23 2026
By System Admin,
Saturday, May 23 2026
Disrupted metabolic function in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) may be amplified in the context of obesity, contributing to intensified alcohol cravings. This is according to a preliminary study that supports ongoing investigation of GLP-1 agonists as a potential AUD treatment. AUD and obesity frequently co-occur. Investigators at Yale University compared metabolic responses to stress and alcohol cues in people with AUD with and without obesity and in healthy controls.
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Tuesday, April 28 2026
By System Admin,
Tuesday, April 28 2026
Researchers have shown they can detect cognitive decline related to heavy alcohol use even before clinical dementia symptoms appear. The study’s findings support the idea that alcohol use disorder is a potentially modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults and highlight an opportunity to intervene before cognitive decline escalates. The study adds to the considerable research linking alcohol use disorder to dementia, and specifically examines early cognitive decline, and whether alcohol use disorder is responsible for biological changes resulting in early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
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Monday, March 2 2026
By System Admin,
Monday, March 2 2026
Cutting back on drinking is associated with many health benefits, including improved sleep, increased energy, weight loss and improved cardiovascular health. Reducing drinking can also help improve your mood. Other benefits can include financial savings and an improved insight into your relationship with alcohol. Research demonstrates that people can still achieve health benefits by reducing their consumption, even if they don’t cut back completely.
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Thursday, February 26 2026
By System Admin,
Thursday, February 26 2026
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have developed a new, easy-to-use blood test score that can help identify when fatty liver disease is being driven by excessive alcohol use, an important distinction that often goes unrecognized in routine care. The study results found that a new blood test score could help clinicians determine when liver injury is likely driven by alcohol rather than metabolic factors, providing clearer guidance on when additional alcohol testing may be needed. Read more...
Wednesday, February 25 2026
By System Admin,
Wednesday, February 25 2026
A peer-reviewed study found that long-term heavy alcohol consumption is associated with a dramatically higher risk of colorectal cancer — particularly rectal cancer. Researchers followed more than 88,000 adults with no prior cancer history and found that people who drank heavily across adulthood had up to a 91 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer compared with lifelong light drinkers. Importantly, the study also suggests that quitting alcohol may reduce risk. Read more...
