National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

The holidays are here! And since drinking alcohol is a part of holiday festivities for many people, it is a good time to be mindful of how it can affect our celebrations and our health.

Alcohol is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, with harms related to both acute and chronic effects of alcohol contributing to about 5 million emergency department visits and 99,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. There is no perfectly safe level of alcohol consumption, as current research points to health risks including cancer and cardiovascular risks even at low levels of consumption, regardless of beverage type.

¿Qué son los trastornos del espectro alcohólico fetal? El término trastornos del espectro alcohólico fetal (FASD, por su sigla en inglés) se refiere a una variedad de condiciones físicas, conductuales y cognitivas causadas por la exposición al alcohol antes del nacimiento (también conocido como la exposición prenatal al alcohol). Estas condiciones pueden presentarse en cualquier momento en la niñez y...

APPARENT PER CAPITA ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION: NATIONAL, STATE, AND REGIONAL TRENDS, 1977–2022 Megan E. Slater, Ph.D. Hillel R. Alpert, Sc.D. CSR, Incorporated 1 Suite 400 20130 Lakeview Center Plaza Ashburn, VA 20147 April 2024 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service National Institutes of Health 1 CSR, Incorporated, operates the Alcohol Epidemiologic Data System (AEDS) under Contract No...

It’s Big Game time and March Madness is fast approaching providing opportunities for fans to get together and cheer on their favorite teams. While planning festivities be aware that some guests may choose to celebrate without consuming alcohol. Whether your guests are abstaining because they are driving after the game or have an early morning the next day or because...

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.

Muchas personas se sorprenden al saber lo que cuenta como una bebida. La cantidad de líquido en su vaso, lata o botella no necesariamente coincide con la cantidad de alcohol que hay realmente en su bebida. Los diferentes tipos de cerveza, vino o licor de malta pueden tener cantidades muy diferentes de contenido de alcohol. Por ejemplo, muchas cervezas ligeras...

Gary Murray, Ph.D., Kathy Jung, Ph.D., Bill Dunty, Ph.D. Replaces PA-17-220 and PA-17-219 Mechanisms of Alcohol-associated Cancers (Clinical Trial Not Allowed, R01/R21): Expiring September 8, 2020. Purpose This notice highlights interest in receiving investigator-initiated grant applications investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which alcohol increases cancer risk. Epidemiological and biological research has established that chronic or excessive alcohol consumption...

Comprehensive Alcohol Research Centers (P60) and Specialized Alcohol Research Centers (P50) NIAAA has released its Notice of Funding Opportunities for their Center Programs: NIAAA has established a nationwide program of Alcohol Research Centers. The Alcohol Research Centers Program complements and is interrelated with all other research support mechanisms and scientific activities that investigate the causes, diagnosis, treatment, control, prevention, and...

The football playoffs are here and the Big Game is one of the biggest sporting events in the United States. This is the day that many people will get together with family and friends to root for their team.

A Wearable Alcohol Biosensor - A Second Challenge Note: The Second Biosensor Challenge submission period ended May 15, 2017. Video: Watch the Biosensor Challenge Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frD2xRhoapc 1 st Prize: $200,000 2 nd Prize: $100,000 The Challenge: To produce a prototype of a sleek, unobtrusive wearable capable of monitoring blood alcohol, non-invasively, and in real time. Such a device would...

This article was first published in NIAAA Spectrum Volume 16, Issue 2 . Underage drinking and alcohol misuse by young adults are serious public health concerns in the United States. The 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 15.1% of people ages 12 to 20 and 50.2% of people ages 18 to 25 reported drinking alcohol...

As we move from January to February, some people’s motivation to keep their New Year’s resolutions starts to wane. But it’s a good idea to be mindful of how alcohol can adversely affect our health all year long.

Graduación Antes de que sus hijos celebren su graduación de secundaria, hable con ellos sobre cómo mantener los eventos libres del consumo de alcohol. ¡Puede salvar una vida! Ninguna cantidad de consumo de alcohol entre menores de edad es segura. Y sabemos que el consumo de alcohol entre menores de edad puede llevar a consumir demasiado alcohol, lo que puede...

This article was first published in NIAAA Spectrum Volume 14, Issue 2. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than half of Americans ages 18 and older reported drinking alcohol in the past month, and about a quarter of this same group reported past-month binge drinking. To help adults who drink alcohol to better understand...

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Initial Review Group (IRG) reviews grant and cooperative agreement applications and contract proposals for research projects and for research and training activities in areas of clinical, treatment, and health services research, and in the areas of biochemistry, physiology, and medicine. NIAAA Study Sections and Special Emphasis Panels meetings are closed in accordance...

Harmful and underage college drinking are significant public health problems, and they exact an enormous toll on the intellectual and social lives of students on campuses across the United States. Drinking at college has become a ritual that students often see as an integral part of their higher education experience. Many students come to college with established drinking habits, and the college environment can exacerbate the problem.

You’ve probably seen this warning on medicines you’ve taken. The danger is real. Mixing alcohol with certain medications can cause nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting, or loss of coordination. It also can put you at risk for internal bleeding, heart problems, and difficulties in breathing. In addition to these dangers, alcohol can make a medication less effective or even useless, or it may make the medication harmful or toxic to your body.

Events such as Dry January and Sober October, as well as the broader sober curious movement, are rapidly gaining popularity, especially among Millennials.

NIAAA promotes advancement in several critical research areas with special programs and by participating on select committees. Priority research areas include: Medications Development NIAAA’s Medications Development Program focuses on expanding safe and effective medication options for those suffering from alcohol use disorders and alcohol induced organ damage. The Medications Development Program offers funding grants and contracts to academic research institutions...