National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

The holiday season is here, bringing with it many opportunities for parties, celebrations, and for some – overindulging. So, it’s a good time to understand a little more about the possible consequences of these festivities, particularly the dreaded hangover.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Summary of the 124th Meeting June 9-10, 2010 The National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) convened for its 124th meeting at 5:30 p.m. on June 9, 2010, at the Fishers Lane Conference Center in Rockville, Maryland, in closed session for a review of grant applications, review of Merit Award extensions, and Merit Award nominations. Dr. Abraham Bautista...

September 2, 2021

Each fall, nearly 20 million young adults begin college, with nearly 12 million attending full time. 1 The first six weeks of freshman year are a particularly vulnerable time for underage college drinking, harmful drinking, and alcohol-related consequences. Student expectations and social pressures at the start of the academic year contribute to this vulnerability. Additionally, due to widespread virtual classes...

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as “a problematic pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress,” and is diagnosed as mild, moderate, or severe based on the number of symptoms, out of a possible 11, in the past 12 months.

Wed, 04/27/2022 - 12:00

In a new review article, scientists at NIAAA have released a definition of recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD) that addresses limitations associated with prior AUD recovery definitions and lays the groundwork for future recovery-related research. As they report online in the American Journal of Psychiatry on April 12, 2022, Dr. Brett Hagman, Dr. Dan Falk, Dr. Raye Litten, and...

Alcohol addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder associated with compulsive alcohol drinking, the loss of control over intake, and the emergence of a negative emotional state when alcohol is no longer available. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. It is a...

People drink to socialize, celebrate, and relax. Alcohol often has a strong effect on people – and throughout history, we’ve struggled to understand and manage alcohol’s power. Why does alcohol cause us to act and feel differently? How much is too much? Why do some people develop alcohol use disorder while others do not? NIAAA is researching these and other...

Summer is a season of sunny days, vacations, and outdoor activities, such as backyard gatherings, swimming, and hiking. Summer activities and events may involve alcohol, so it’s important to understand the risks . Alcohol can impair a person’s ability to perceive and respond to changes in their environment. This is particularly a concern in situations that require attention and coordination...

February 16, 2024

How does alcohol affect a teen’s health? Test your knowledge about underage drinking with an online quiz , now available from Kahoot! The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has partnered with Kahoot!, an online learning platform, to provide free interactive quizzes and games for educators and learners. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is excited to have...

Welcome to NIAAA for Middle School Underage drinking is a significant public health problem in the United States. This webpage contains interactive activities to help parents, caregivers, and teachers introduce and reinforce key messages about peer pressure, resistance skills, and other important topics related to underage drinking. These engaging activities are designed for middle schoolers ages 11 to 13. They...

March 27, 2024

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, an opportunity to update your knowledge about alcohol use disorder (AUD) and the adverse impact of alcohol misuse on health and society. Alcohol-related problems continue to take a heavy toll on individuals, families, and communities. Researchers estimate that each year there are more than 178,000 alcohol-related deaths, making alcohol a leading preventable cause of death...

Friday, March 10, 2023, 11:00 am EST to Friday, March 10, 2023, 12:00 pm EST

In this webinar, Ivana Grakalic, PhD will provide an overview of important findings from epidemiological and neuroscience research on harmful drinking among women and girls, including findings from major multi-agency initiatives such as the Collaborative Research on Addiction at NIH (CRAN) Initiative, the Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies ® (BRAIN) Initiative, and the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD)...

For Health Care Professionals Screening and risk assessment The quick two-question screening tool and risk level estimates in Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for Youth will give you a good idea as to your patients’ level of risk for alcohol-related problems. If you wish to follow up with other tools, two to consider are the 10-question AUDIT and the 6-question...

Graduation is a time to celebrate. But before your high school seniors begin their parties, take the time to talk with them about keeping events alcohol-free—it just may save a life. No amount of underage drinking is legal or safe. And we know that any underage drinking can lead to consuming too much alcohol, which may result in poor decisions, injuries, alcohol overdose, and possibly death.

Takeaways You can maximize patient choice and outcomes by offering a full menu of evidence-based treatment options. Approaches for treating alcohol use disorder (AUD) include behavioral health treatments, FDA-approved AUD medications, and mutual support groups, or a combination of any of these. Behavioral health treatments for AUD can bring lasting positive change. Steer patients in need of referral for behavioral...

The period after high school is a transitional time. Many young adults have greater freedom and independence, and they take on more responsibility as they enter the next chapter of their lives. During this time, young adults may have an increased vulnerability for alcohol misuse and alcohol use disorder. Below are strategies for addressing alcohol misuse among young adults. Individual-level...

Everything you eat and drink while you are pregnant affects your baby. If you drink alcohol, it can hurt your baby’s growth. Your baby may have physical and behavioral problems that can last for the rest of his or her life. Children born with the most serious problems caused by alcohol have fetal alcohol syndrome.

Everything you eat and drink while you are pregnant affects your baby. If you drink alcohol, it can hurt your baby’s growth. Your baby may have physical and behavioral problems that can last for the rest of his or her life. Children born with the most serious problems caused by alcohol have fetal alcohol syndrome.

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting every family across the country and will likely have a long-lasting impact on public health and well-being. Alcohol misuse is already a public health concern in the United States, with dramatic increases in emergency department visits and alcohol-related deaths observed in recent years. Alcohol has the potential to further complicate the COVID-19 pandemic in multiple ways.

The period after high school is a transitional time. Many young adults have greater freedom and independence, and they take on more responsibility as they enter the next chapter of their lives. During this time, young adults may have an increased vulnerability for alcohol misuse and alcohol use disorder. Healthcare professionals play an important role in addressing alcohol misuse in...