What Are the Health Risks of Alcohol?

Reviewed by Claire Pinelli BA, MS, ICAADC, ICCS, MCAP, LADC, LCDC

Since America’s earliest days, alcohol has been woven into nearly every kind of social or business gathering. It’s hard to imagine a graduation party, wedding reception, New Year’s Eve celebration, or twenty-first birthday without it. But despite how normal drinking may seem, alcohol has also contributed to the destruction of millions of lives.

A big part of the problem is that alcohol’s damage often isn’t obvious right away. Alcoholism and liver failure can take years—sometimes decades—to develop. Heart disease and brain damage creep in over time. Yet each year, alcohol still kills more than 178,000 people, and millions of families experience addiction, illness, or the death of someone they love. If you’re reading this page, you may already know that pain firsthand.

What many Americans struggle to accept—because drinking is tied so closely to celebration—is that alcohol is a toxic, cancer-causing substance. Even people who try to “keep it moderate” should understand this essential truth:

There is no safe amount of alcohol consumption. Any quantity of alcohol is capable of affecting your health.

Alcohol affects a person physically, mentally, and emotionally. Its harms show up both immediately and over the long haul. And alcohol poisoning alone kills more than 2,600 people every year.

Understanding Alcohol as a Health Risk

How can something so dangerous be seen as so acceptable? One reason is that people have been encouraged—sometimes intentionally, sometimes through misinformation—to believe alcohol has health benefits.

After Prohibition ended, a handful of researchers began minimizing alcohol’s harms. Decades later, a popular TV show claimed that an ingredient in red wine was “good for your heart,” and red wine sales spiked overnight.

But slowly, public awareness has begun to shift. From the World Health Organization (WHO) to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), health experts are now clear: alcohol is far more dangerous than previously believed.

Research continues to show that alcohol damages the body from the very first drink. In 2022, the WHO published findings in The Lancet stating definitively that no amount of alcohol is safe. In other words, harm begins with drink number one.

Not every institution has caught up to this understanding. For example, the U.S. Veterans Administration still promotes “moderate drinking,” defined as up to 14 drinks per week for men. While this may reduce risk, it doesn’t eliminate it.

The WHO describes alcohol as a “toxic, psychoactive, and dependence-producing substance” and classifies it as a Group 1 carcinogen—the same category as asbestos, radiation, and tobacco. A man who sticks to the VA’s “moderate” guideline still consumes nearly 3.5 gallons of pure alcohol each year.

So even people who think they’re limiting their drinking may be surprised to learn they’re still taking in a toxic, cancer-causing substance. From the first drink, health risks go up.

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How Alcohol Affects the Body

Why does alcohol cause so much harm? Here’s what happens inside the body every time someone drinks beer, wine, liquor, or any other alcoholic beverage:

1. Alcohol is rapidly absorbed in the stomach and small intestine and enters the bloodstream.
   
   
2. It travels to the brain, where it slows brain function. Thinking, movement, and judgment start to decline, and mood begins to shift.
   
   
3. The liver jumps into action, trying to break the alcohol down. During this process, it creates acetaldehyde, a highly toxic substance.
   
   
4. Acetaldehyde is even more harmful than alcohol. Some people's genetic makeup slows alcohol metabolism, causing dangerous levels to build up. But anyone who drinks faster than the liver can process will accumulate increased levels of this toxin.
   
   
5. Acetaldehyde damages liver cells and contributes to nausea, headaches, and rapid heartbeat.
   
   
6. Alcohol irritates the stomach lining, causing pain and digestive issues.
   
   
7. High acetaldehyde levels damage the pancreas, impairing blood sugar regulation and increasing risks for diabetes, inflammation, and even life-threatening injury.
   
   
8. Alcohol harms white blood cells, weakening the immune system almost instantly.
   
   

What Counts as Excessive Drinking

Starting around the early 2000s, public health groups began urging Americans to cut back.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommend:

• Women: No more than 1 standard drink per day
• Men: No more than 2 standard drinks per day

A standard drink contains 0.6 ounces (14 grams) of pure alcohol:

• 12 oz of beer
• 5 oz of wine
• 1.5 oz of distilled spirits (vodka, whiskey, rum, etc.)

Binge drinking means:

• Women: 4 or more drinks in about two hours
• Men: 5 or more drinks in about two hours
• This usually raises blood alcohol concentration above 0.08%, the legal limit in most places.

Heavy drinking, according to SAMHSA, is binge drinking on 5 or more days per month. Many people with drinking problems far exceed this level.

Short-Term Health Risks of Alcohol

You’ve already seen how quickly alcohol affects the body. But short-term risks go well beyond dizziness or nausea. In some cases, they can be deadly.

Alcohol poisoning occurs when someone drinks more alcohol than the body can process. The liver gets overwhelmed, the brain loses control over vital functions, breathing slows, and the heartbeat can become irregular—or stop. A person may vomit while unconscious and choke on or inhale the vomit.

More than 2,600 people die of alcohol poisoning every year.

Other alcohol-related deaths come from accidents and injuries: car crashes, falls, drownings, burns, and more. Across two recent years, these causes led to 126,642 deaths, and in one year alone, 10,049 drivers were killed in alcohol-related crashes.

Behavioral and Judgment Risks

Alcohol alters mood and brain function, which is why judgment becomes unreliable. People often say, “You’re not yourself when you drink”—and it’s true.

Poor judgment under the influence of alcohol can lead to:

• Unprotected sex, increasing risks of infections or pregnancy

• Assaulting someone or becoming a victim

• Falls or drowning

• Domestic violence

• Failing at work or school

• Mixing alcohol with other drugs

• Putting yourself in dangerous situations

• Suicide attempts or self-harm

Acute Health Episodes

Some effects show up within hours:

• High blood pressure, which raises the risk of a heart attack or stroke

• Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and indigestion

• Poor sleep quality

• Weakened immunity

• Irregular heartbeat or elevated heart rate

Blackouts and vomiting—especially inhaling vomit—can be fatal. And despite persistent myths, alcohol does not provide the health benefits that were promoted in the past.

Long-Term Physical Health Risks

Long-term heavy drinking can damage nearly every major system in the body. Because this damage builds slowly, many people don’t realize the harm until it’s severe.

Chronic alcohol use increases risks for:

• Cardiovascular disease: weakened heart muscle, arrhythmias, high blood pressure, narrowed arteries, heart failure, cardiac arrest

• Liver disease: fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver failure

• Digestive problems: ulcers, inflammation, nutrient absorption issues

• Weakened immunity: higher susceptibility to pneumonia, tuberculosis, HIV, and other illnesses

• Hormonal and endocrine disorders: diabetes, thyroid problems, reproductive issues, high cholesterol, obesity

Alcohol and Cancer

Alcohol is strongly linked to increased risk for cancers of the:

• Mouth
• Throat
• Voice box
• Esophagus
• Colon and rectum
• Liver
• Breast (women)
• Prostate (men)
• Pancreas

Acetaldehyde damages DNA and cells, directly increasing cancer risk. Alcohol also raises hormones like estrogen, contributing to breast cancer, and liver damage makes liver cancer more likely.

Smoking plus drinking multiplies cancer risk—especially for head, neck, and esophagus cancers.

Alcohol-related cancer deaths in the U.S. have more than doubled, from 11,896 in 1990 to 23,207 in 2021.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, alongside asbestos, benzene, diesel exhaust, plutonium, and tobacco.

Neurological and Brain Health Risks

If you want to protect your brain, avoiding alcohol is one of the best things you can do. Some alcohol-related brain damage can’t be reversed. For people who drink heavily, understanding what alcohol does to the brain may be the wake-up call that helps them change.

Changes in the Brain That Lead to Cognitive Decline

Alcohol shrinks the brain—especially the frontal lobes—and reduces both gray and white matter. Even one or two drinks per day can cause a measurable decline and accelerate brain aging.

This leads to:

• Slower thinking

• Trouble focusing

• Poor coordination or balance

• Mood swings

• Difficulty planning or organizing

• Trouble finding words or following conversations

• Reduced self-control

Alcohol also disrupts normal brain development in people under 25.

Dementia and Memory Loss

Long-term drinking can contribute to:

• Early-onset dementia

• Memory loss

• Higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease

• Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome, a severe brain disorder linked to thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency

A French study found that three drinks per day significantly increases the risk of early-onset dementia. Researchers concluded that heavy drinking and alcohol use disorders are among the strongest risk factors for dementia.

Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome often unfolds in two stages:

Wernicke’s disease, with symptoms like:

• Confusion

• Double vision

• Drooping eyelid

• Low blood pressure

• Fainting or drowsiness

If untreated, it can progress to Korsakoff syndrome, marked by:

• Severe short-term memory loss

• Inability to form new memories

• Hallucinations

• Difficulty processing information

• Apathy

By the time a person reaches Korsakoff syndrome, some damage may be irreversible—even with treatment.

Brain Inflammation Resulting from Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol harms the brain in both direct and indirect ways. When someone drinks heavily over long periods, the brain becomes irritated and begins to swell. This inflammation slows brain function, weakens communication between neural pathways, and makes it harder for the brain to work the way it should. The more a person drinks, the worse these problems can become.

Common signs include:

• Memory problems

• Poor coordination

• Mood and behavior changes

• Difficulty speaking clearly

• Clouded thinking

• Poor decision-making

• Personality changes

Sometimes, the personality changes families struggle with in an alcoholic loved one aren’t just “behavior issues”—they’re the result of actual physical damage to the brain.

Nervous System Damage from Alcohol

The same toxins that damage the brain also attack the spinal cord and the nerves throughout the body. Both alcohol and acetaldehyde—the toxic chemical the body produces while breaking down alcohol—are harmful to nerve tissue. Heavy drinking also leads to a deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine), which is essential for healthy nerve function. Without it, nerve cells weaken and die.

Symptoms may include:

• Numbness, tingling, burning, or pain in the hands or feet

• Muscle weakness

• Muscle cramps

• Poor balance and coordination

• Difficulty controlling the bladder or bowels

• Sexual dysfunction

These symptoms usually worsen over time if drinking continues.

Mental and Emotional Health Risks of Drinking

Alcohol doesn’t just harm the body—it deeply affects a person’s mind and emotions. These changes can be devastating for the drinker and extremely painful for loved ones, coworkers, and friends.

Mental Health and Emotional Impacts

Heavy, long-term drinking disrupts brain function and hormone regulation. Add to that the guilt, stress, and chaos created by alcohol-related problems, and the result is often a serious mental health decline.

These effects may show up as:

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Irritability

• Trouble concentrating

• Sadness

• Mood swings

• Agitation

• Low self-esteem

• Hallucinations

• Withdrawing from others

• Poor social skills

• Aggressive or antisocial behavior

Unfortunately, these painful symptoms often push people to drink even more in an attempt to escape them, creating a cycle that can eventually lead to full-blown addiction.

Risk for Self-Harm and Suicide

Alcohol impairs judgment and lowers inhibitions—an extremely dangerous combination when someone is distressed or impulsive. Drinking can turn a passing thought into a reckless decision.

Here’s what the research shows:

• About 1 in 5 people who die by suicide have a blood alcohol concentration above the legal driving limit.

• In one study, men who died by suicide were six times more likely to be intoxicated than men who were alive. Women were ten times more likely.

• The same study found that 36% of men and 28% of women who died by suicide had consumed alcohol shortly before their deaths.

Social and Life-Impact Risks

Anyone who has lived or worked around a heavy drinker knows that alcohol affects far more than physical health. It impacts relationships, job performance, school success, and overall happiness—often long before the drinker realizes it.

Relationship and Family Problems

Alcohol often causes conflict, distance, and emotional pain within families. Research shows:

• Alcohol is involved in up to 75% of intimate partner abuse cases.

• When drinking is involved, arguments become more intense and harder to resolve peacefully.

• Children in homes with heavy drinking face more exposure to violence and neglect.

• Heavy drinkers frequently withdraw from supportive friends and family.

• Alcohol impairs communication and self-control, making relationships harder to maintain.

Changes in Work and Academic Performance

Some people appear “functional” despite drinking heavily—but eventually the cracks show. They may try to hide the signs, but behavioral and performance problems become noticeable over time.

At Work

Watch for:

• Unexplained absences

• Repeated lateness

• Excessive sick days, especially after weekends or payday

• Frequent sudden “emergencies”

• Poor-quality or incomplete work

• Weak excuses

• Isolation

• Argumentative behavior

• Falling productivity

At School

Alcohol can disrupt every part of a student’s life. Changes may include:

• Missing or ignoring assignments

• Dropping grades

• Social problems (fighting, isolation, illegal activity)

• Loss of motivation

• Skipping or dropping classes

• Switching schools

• Memory issues and learning problems

• Injuries

• Risky sexual behavior

• Arrests or disciplinary action

Legal and Financial Consequences

While drinking itself isn’t illegal for adults, heavy drinking often leads to serious legal and financial trouble. These problems can disrupt families, cost thousands of dollars, and even lead to unemployment or bankruptcy.

Common consequences include:

• Arrests for DUI, public intoxication, or assault

• Losing a home

• Business failure

• Expensive rehab stays

• Court fees and fines

• High credit card debt

• Legal fees for criminal cases or divorce

Risks for Special Populations

Certain groups face especially severe consequences when they drink. Awareness of these risks is essential.

Alcohol’s Harms During Pregnancy

Alcohol during pregnancy can cause lifelong harm. Anyone who is pregnant or trying to become pregnant should understand the risks.

Potential consequences include:

• Miscarriage

• Stillbirth

• Premature birth

• Low birth weight

• Physical abnormalities (including smaller brain size, heart defects, or limb issues)

Alcohol can also cause Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) or Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). These conditions can lead to learning disabilities, speech problems, facial abnormalities, behavioral issues, and emotional challenges.

No amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy.
Because many women don’t know they’re pregnant right away, alcohol can be risky for anyone of childbearing age.

These conditions can impact families for years, requiring ongoing medical care and therapy.

Risks for People Under 21

Alcohol is particularly damaging to the developing brain and body. Young people who drink—especially those who binge drink—face elevated risks such as:

• Changes to brain structure

• Impaired learning, attention, and decision-making

• Higher likelihood of developing alcoholism

• Stunted growth

• Academic problems or failure

• Increased risk of unsafe sex and unplanned pregnancy

• Arrests and a criminal record

Risks for Older Adults

By age 55–65, alcohol becomes more dangerous. Aging reduces the liver’s ability to break down alcohol, causing acetaldehyde to build up to higher levels. This increases cancer risk and worsens many health conditions.

Key risks for older adults include:

• Feeling alcohol’s effects faster

• Reduced effectiveness of medications

• Higher risk of falls, injuries, and car accidents

• Worsening conditions like osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease

• Greater impact on memory, mood, and thinking

• Difficulty diagnosing health issues (alcohol can mask symptoms)

• Heightened risk of loneliness, depression, and suicide—especially among older women

Alcohol-Related Mortality

All alcohol-related deaths are preventable. But because the harm can happen either suddenly or slowly over decades, it’s easy to underestimate the risk.

Leading Causes of Alcohol-Related Deaths

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol contributes to 178,000 deaths each year in the U.S. These break down into:

• Suicide: 9,800

• Liver disease and cirrhosis: 12,700

• Falls, homicides, drowning, and other causes: 14,400

• Traffic accidents: 15,000

• Cancer: 17,000

• Alcohol poisoning and other poisonings while intoxicated: 21,800

• Heart disease and stroke: 37,000

An additional 49,000 people die each year from conditions wholly caused by alcohol, like alcoholic liver disease or alcoholic psychosis.

Totals:

• 117,245 deaths from chronic illness

• 61,063 deaths from injuries and short-term problems

“Slow-Onset” Deaths Often Overlooked

Traffic crashes caused by drunk driving are easy to understand. But alcohol also plays a major role in deaths from long-term diseases—harm that may take decades to develop.

The CDC tracks these slow-onset alcohol-related deaths, including:

• Breast cancer (women): 2,600

• Colorectal cancer: 2,800

• Liver cancer: 5,100

• Mouth or throat cancer: 2,900

• Alcoholic liver disease: 31,300

• High blood pressure: 21,100

• Stroke: 6,400

• Cirrhosis: 12,300

These deaths rarely make headlines—but the impact is profound.

The Total Burden on Americans

Beyond deaths, alcohol inflicts enormous harm on families, workplaces, and communities in America and around the world.

Some key statistics:

• More than 2.6 million deaths worldwide

• More than 178,000 deaths annually in the U.S.

• More than 4.3 million years of life lost

The most recent estimate (from 2010) suggests alcohol costs the U.S. $249 billion per year in lost productivity, healthcare costs, and law enforcement.

But alcohol-related deaths increased 70% between 2012 and 2022. If costs rose at the same rate, the real financial burden today could exceed $423 billion each year—about $1,244 per American.

And that’s only alcohol. Drug addiction raises these costs even further.

Visible Warning Signs of Alcohol Damage

Some alcohol-related problems build quietly for decades, while others show up much sooner. These early warning signs shouldn't be ignored—they may indicate that the body is already being harmed.

Physical Signs That Alcohol Is Damaging Your Health [click to expand]

Early liver damage:

• Mild pain in the upper-right abdomen

• Fatigue

• Weight loss

• Yellowing skin or eyes

Changes to the skin:

• Redness in the face due to acetaldehyde buildup

• Excess sweating or night sweats

• Dry skin or sores from immune system damage

• Dilated blood vessels (spider veins)

• Easy bruising

Nerve damage:

• Muscle weakness

• Tingling, numbness, or burning sensations

• Poor balance or coordination

Heart and other signs:

• Irregular heartbeat

• Dizziness when standing

• Reduced bone density

• Stomach pain or ulcers

Anyone experiencing these symptoms should see a doctor—but if alcohol is involved, these signs are an urgent warning that damage is occurring.

Understanding the Full Scope of Alcohol’s Harm

Alcohol harms far more than the body. Its impact on happiness, stability, and daily functioning can be enormous. Many people don’t realize how much drinking is affecting them until serious problems have already developed.

Declines in Quality of Life

While alcohol kills more than 178,000 Americans each year, millions more live with reduced quality of life because of heavy drinking. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health:

• 61 million people binge drink monthly

• 16 million drink heavily monthly

• 25.9 million struggle with alcohol dependence or addiction

These individuals often face:

• Chronic pain

• Increased anxiety or depression

• Illness and disability

• Emotional instability

• Family conflict

• Domestic or child abuse

• Job or school problems

• Financial or legal trouble

• Unemployment

• Homelessness

• Mental health problems

• Isolation

• Dependence on family or professional care

Stopping or reducing drinking can dramatically lower these risks.

Disadvantaged Populations and Alcohol Harm

The people least able to handle the consequences of heavy drinking are often the ones most affected. Lower-income groups may drink the same amount—or less—than wealthier groups, yet they suffer more alcohol-related disease and death.

Why?

• Riskier drinking patterns

• Higher stress levels

• Less access to healthcare

• Poorer living conditions

• Financial stress leading to more drinking

The Elephant in the Room

With so many destructive effects, why do people drink? And why do they drink heavily?

In many cases, people simply don’t know the risks. Drinking is normalized—sometimes expected—in social groups. Pressure from friends or coworkers can push some people into drinking more than they planned.

One man quoted a text from a friend:
“Drinkin' buddy says to me ‘You WILL come to the bar with us & get drunk cause ur not a man unless U drink.’”

Then there’s the money. The alcohol industry is worth about $543 billion each year and spends billions promoting drinking. The world’s largest beer company spends more than $6 billion on marketing annually. Beam Suntory spends more than $3.3 billion. These investments are designed to keep people drinking.

But change is happening. Reports show more people choosing low-alcohol or alcohol-free options. The non-alcoholic beverage market is growing. Education and awareness are key—especially before someone becomes addicted or ill.

Why Americans (and Others) Need to Reconsider Drinking

Alcohol has woven itself so deeply into modern life that many people barely question it. Advertisers spend billions to convince us that we need a drink in our hands at weddings, during the big game, or while ringing in the New Year. Social pressure enforces the idea that choosing not to drink is somehow awkward, antisocial, or even strange.

In many industries, drinking isn’t just common—it’s practically expected. Group drinking is particularly prevalent in:

• High-level corporate environments

• Tech start-ups

• Client entertainment–heavy professions

• Law firms and consulting groups

• Film, media, and music

• Construction and skilled trades

• Oil, gas, and mining

• Agricultural jobs

• Maritime, fishing, and longshore work

• First responders

Alcohol pressure cuts across professions, social classes, and income levels. But the reality is clear: alcohol—especially heavy, binge, or chronic use—is destructive, and for many people, deadly. Even light drinking carries real risk. Once you understand those risks, you’re the one who decides what comes next.

The Case for Putting Down the Bottle

Here are the major risks you need to weigh when deciding whether drinking is right for you:

• Higher likelihood of serious physical diseases: liver disease, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and multiple forms of cancer (including breast, colon, liver, mouth, and throat).

• Damage to the brain and nervous system can lead to memory loss, dementia, depression, anxiety, and long-term neurological impairment.

• Increased chance of accidents, injuries, violence, car crashes, and dangerous behaviors.

• Worsening mental health, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.

• Digestive issues like vomiting, stomach problems, or diarrhea.

• A weakened immune system makes illness more frequent.

• Strain on relationships, work, school, and daily responsibilities.

• Disrupted sleep, fertility issues, and sexual-health problems.

• Serious and permanent harm to developing babies during pregnancy.

• Legal and financial consequences, including DUIs or arrests.

• The risk of developing alcohol use disorder—cravings, loss of control, and withdrawal.

Over the last two decades, Americans have been steadily moving toward healthier lifestyles:

• Smoking dropped from 52 million adults in 1980 to 28 million in 2022.

• Diets have shifted away from processed meats and toward more plant-based foods.

• More adults are active and focused on fitness.

Choosing to reduce or eliminate alcohol is another powerful way to improve your health, happiness, and long-term success.

Insights from Recent Research

In the 1990s, many experts believed moderate drinking—especially red wine—could be good for your heart. That message was great for the alcohol industry, but it also encouraged some people to drink more often or more heavily, thinking they were making a “healthy” choice.

Today, better data tells a different story.

The CDC now provides a detailed breakdown of deaths caused by alcohol versus deaths prevented by any potential benefits:

• Deaths caused by alcohol each year: 178,000
• Deaths prevented by alcohol: 316

The gap speaks for itself.

Science has also made one fact undeniable: alcohol is a carcinogen. It causes cancer and contributes to a wide range of deadly health problems. As new research emerges year after year, the understanding is clearer than ever: drinking carries substantial risks.

Making Informed Decisions About Alcohol

If you’re trying to decide whether drinking fits into your life, here are the key considerations.

Evaluating Your Personal Risk

Certain health conditions and family history factors raise your risk significantly:

• Early signs or risk factors for heart disease

• Fatty liver or other liver issues

• Past cancer or genetic risk for cancer

• Being under age 25 (while your brain is still developing)

• Any history of mental health struggles or suicidal thoughts

• A weak immune system or frequent illness

• Digestive sensitivities

• Bone-health problems

• Fertility issues or plans for pregnancy

• A family history of alcohol use disorder

Answering “yes” to even one of these suggests increased vulnerability to alcohol-related harm. In fact, if alcoholism runs in your family, your risk of developing alcohol use disorder is four times higher.

Mixing Medications with Alcohol and Their Effects:

Drinking alcohol while taking certain medications can also greatly increase the danger. Note these combinations that increase the risk of harm:

• Benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax), opioids (Vicodin, Lortab), muscle relaxants, and antidepressants: Can drastically raise overdose risk.

• Anxiety or seizure medications (clonazepam, valproic acid, phenytoin): Increases dizziness, drowsiness, and seizure risk.

• Blood pressure medications (clonidine, verapamil). Can cause dangerous changes in blood pressure.

• ADHD medications (amphetamines, methylphenidate): Raises heart-related risks.

• Blood thinners (warfarin): Can increase bleeding risk.

• Antibiotics like metronidazole, isoniazid, or ketoconazole: Can increase the risk of liver damage.

If You Choose to Drink

If you decide to drink, these strategies can help reduce harm:

1. Learn what counts as a standard drink.
2. Decide ahead of time how much to drink—and stick to it.
3. Eat a substantial meal before drinking.
4. Alternate alcoholic beverages with water.
5. Choose social circles that respect low-drinking or sober habits.
6. Never drink before driving or working.
7. Avoid drinking when stressed, upset, or emotional.
8. Steer clear of settings known for excessive drinking.
9. Have several alcohol-free days every week.

When You Should Avoid Alcohol Completely

Alcohol should be avoided entirely if:

• You are pregnant or trying to conceive

• You are on any of the medications listed above

• You have a history of addiction

• You have any medical condition worsened by alcohol

• You are under 21

• You care for children

• You need to remain alert for safety reasons

Getting Help and Support

If your drinking is slipping out of control and you can’t seem to manage it on your own, it’s time to seriously evaluate whether you’re dealing with alcohol use disorder—and if you need immediate help.

Recognizing Alcohol Use Disorder

You can start by asking yourself if you are:

1. Drinking more at each sitting?
2. Neglecting grooming or personal care?
3. Experiencing blackouts?
4. Struggling to focus?
5. Noticing memory problems?
6. Drinking alone?
7. Hiding your drinking?
8. Scheduling your day around alcohol?
9. Neglecting responsibilities?
10. Missing work or school?
11. Experiencing mood changes?
12. Avoiding social or family events?
13. Getting injured while drinking?
14. Driving or using machinery after drinking?
15. Craving alcohol?
16. Drinking after stress or emotional events?

If you see these patterns, alcohol is likely a serious problem.

Signs of full addiction include:

• Intense cravings

• Drinking more or longer than intended

• Withdrawal symptoms

• Needing more alcohol to get the same effect

• Drinking despite significant harm

• Spending large amounts of time drinking or recovering

• Secrecy, isolation, or risky behavior

Facing these truths takes courage. If they describe your or another's life, Narconon can help, as it has helped tens of thousands of others.

Treatment and Recovery Options

The Narconon Drug & Alcohol Program Offers A Path to Real Sobriety

Since 1966, the Narconon program has offered a drug-free way out of alcohol dependence and back to sobriety. There are more than 30 Narconon centers in 16 countries, helping people all around the world. Many families that choose Narconon have had experience with multiple other rehabs, with no success. They chose the Narconon program because it was different and drug-free. You can help end a loved one's cycle of continued cravings and relapse by getting them onto and through the Narconon program.

The Narconon Approach

At Narconon, we know that alcoholism does not need to be a lifelong disease or burden. Our six decades of experience have shown us that we can help a person achieve sobriety without the use of drugs.

Lasting sobriety results from relieving the cravings, guilt, and depression a person suffers after years or even decades of alcoholism and teaching a person the skills they need to get and stay sober.

Helping Someone You Care About Break Free From Alcoholism

A person who has been struggling with alcoholism needs immediate support and understanding. They have usually been immersed in a drinking lifestyle. Once they walk through the doors of a Narconon center, they are among experienced and skilled specialists who will assist and guide them to a new, sober life. Our residential drug and alcohol rehab offers around-the-clock supervision and support.

The Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation program has helped tens of thousands of people recover from drug addiction and alcoholism.

The Narconon Program is based on the research and discoveries of author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard. Narconon is not a religious program. It is a public benefit organization with only one mission: to free people from the ravages of alcoholism and drug addiction.

Why is Narconon Different from Other Programs?

Narconon is not a 12 Step program. It does not require adherence to any religious principles. It is not a program that uses other drugs to get a person off drugs or alcohol.

At Narconon, there is a belief that alcoholism can be overcome, that it is not an incurable, chronic disease. Here, there is a firm understanding that lasting sobriety is within reach.

At Narconon, we address the guilt, cravings and depression that go hand-in-hand with alcohol use. Our proven regimen not only aims to end alcoholism for good but helps each person get to the bottom of why they started drinking in the first place.

At Narconon, each person is educated on the tools to help them take responsibility for their past actions, to mend their relationships and to plan out a productive, drug-free life. The Narconon drug rehab program has a sixty-year history of helping the addicted achieve more enjoyable, sober lives.

The Narconon Program consists of four distinct phases.

1. Drug-Free Withdrawal. Before beginning the drug-free withdrawal, all participants arriving for the Narconon program are required to have a thorough medical assessment. If the physician decides that it is necessary, the person is referred to a medically-supervised detoxification as a prerequisite to starting the Narconon rehab program. As many alcoholics may require such medical detox first, this will be done at a separate medical detoxification facility.

When that is complete, they will come to a Narconon center to complete their alcohol withdrawal and rehabilitation. Narconon’s drug-free withdrawal helps the individual come off drugs as rapidly and comfortably as possible. Narconon Withdrawal Specialists are on hand around the clock to monitor sleep, food, and fluid intake and to provide support. They also use gentle physical techniques known as assists to help lessen aches and pains. Specific exercises are used to get the person more into the present and out of the fog of past drug use. Vitamins and minerals are also used to further calm the body and begin to repair the damage done by alcohol or other drugs.

2. New Life Detoxification. This phase was designed to eliminate toxic residues from the body, which helps to eliminate physical cravings. L. Ron Hubbard discovered that drug residues can remain trapped in the body’s fatty tissues and may be reactivated even years after the person has ceased taking drugs. This step consists of running to stimulate circulation, spending time sweating in a low-heat, dry sauna with a regimen of vitamins, minerals, and oils. The purpose of the New Life Detoxification is to help rid the body of toxic residues and eliminate their negative effects.

3. The Objectives. Drugs dull a person’s awareness and impair their perceptions and communication with the environment, family and friends. Objectives refresh the person’s view of the world and engagement with the present environment. This improvement can extrovert the person’s attention from disturbing memories associated with alcoholism. Those who have completed Objectives often comment report that they are able to view the world around them more clearly than before.

4. Life Skills Courses. Finally, it’s time to address the reasons a person turned to alcohol in the first place and to give them the skills to stay sober. These tasks are accomplished through practical courses that help instill vital sober living skills. There are three steps:

• Overcoming Ups & Downs in Life Course: The person learns how to identify true friends and the positive people and how to isolate those likely to lead the person back to alcohol. They learn how poor decisions, regarding friends and acquaintances, damaged their lives in the past and how to make correct choices in the future.

• Personal Values Course: The person learns how personal values are lost and how to restore them. They can come to recognize their obligations and how to take responsibility for their past actions. This process provides relief from past trauma and guilt, enabling them to look forward to a fresh, new life.

• Changing Conditions in Life Course: Because drug and alcohol use often stems from an inability to deal with challenging situations, it is vital that those in recovery learn constructive problem-solving skills. This step educates individuals in how to make the right choices.

How Someone Takes Their First Step to Sobriety

If you care about someone who is abusing alcohol, start now. Learn more about the Narconon program and how each person can overcome their alcoholism, gain a brighter, more positive outlook and the essential life skills for lasting sobriety.

Addiction to alcohol can be overcome. Contact Narconon today to learn how to get someone started on this program.

Conclusion: The Bottom Line on Alcohol’s Health Risks

You now know that no amount of alcohol is truly safe. You’ve seen the staggering number of alcohol-related deaths and how long-term drinking damages organs, the brain, and the nervous system—sometimes permanently.

The truth is simple: your body is harmed every time you drink. That harm compounds over time.

Some will continue drinking despite knowing the risks. But hopefully, you’ll choose to avoid alcohol—or keep consumption extremely low. When it comes to drinking, less is always better.

You’re now fully informed and able to help others make better decisions, too.

And if you—or someone you love—is struggling, don’t wait. Help is available.

An effective, long-term, drug-free program like Narconon can turn things around. Get help now. Don’t wait.

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