Drinking heavily puts people at risk for many adverse health consequences, including alcohol use disorder, liver damage, and various cancers. But some people appear to be at greater risk than others for developing these problems. Why do some people drink more than others? And why do some people who drink develop problems, whereas others do not? Research shows that alcohol...

Banning Alcohol is a policy intervention to limit community access to alcohol.

The size of the older adult population is increasing rapidly. Alcohol misuse and alcohol-related harms are also increasing among this population, and at a faster rate for women than men. Alcohol misuse refers to drinking in a manner, situation, amount, or frequency that could cause harm to the person who drinks or to those around them. Alcohol misuse includes binge...

Research shows that alcohol use and misuse among women are increasing. While alcohol misuse by anyone presents serious public health concerns, women who drink have a higher risk of certain alcohol-related problems compared to men.

NIAAA supports and conducts research on the impact of alcohol use on human health and well-being.

Todo lo que usted coma y beba mientras esté embarazada afecta a su bebé. Si usted bebe alcohol, esto puede dañar el crecimiento de su bebé. Su bebé puede desarollar problemas emocionales y físicos que pueden durar por el resto de su vida. Los niños que nacen con problemas muy serios causados por el alcohol tienen síndrome fetal alcohólico.

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.

Kathy Jung, Division of Metabolism and Health Effects Purpose The purpose of this announcement is to renew the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s initiative on the development of a wearable alcohol biosensor. Currently, assessment of alcohol consumption relies primarily on inherently subjective self-report through surveys ranging from AUDIT, AUDIT -C, to Timeline Follow Back and other more extensive...

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, and alcohol has the potential to further complicate the COVID-19 pandemic in multiple ways. Below are links to important resources for the public, clinicians, and researchers...

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, and alcohol has the potential to further complicate the COVID-19 pandemic in multiple ways. Below are links to important resources for the public, clinicians, and researchers...

As adolescents mature, they undergo complex developmental changes, especially in their brains. The widespread changes in the organization and functioning of the brain—which continue into a person’s mid-20s—bring about the cognitive, emotional, and social skills necessary for adolescents to survive and thrive. The nature of these rapid changes may also increase the adolescent brain’s vulnerability to alcohol exposure. Patterns of...

Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways and can affect the way the brain looks and works. Alcohol makes it harder for the brain areas controlling balance, memory, speech, and judgment to do their jobs, resulting in a higher likelihood of injuries and other negative outcomes. Long-term heavy drinking causes alterations in the neurons, such as reductions in their size...

Learn up-to-date facts and statistics on alcohol consumption and its impact in the United States and globally. Explore topics related to alcohol misuse and treatment, underage drinking, the effects of alcohol on the human body, and more.

This section of NativeAIR presents interventions designed to reduce or prevent alcohol misuse among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Prevention is consistent with AI/AN traditional approaches to health. The empowering of wellness is viewed as preferable to addressing ill health whenever possible.

Drinking too much – on a single occasion or over time – can take a serious toll on your health. Here’s how alcohol can affect your body

NIAAA research-based information on drinking and its impact.

Helping Your Patients with Alcohol-Related Problems. Alcohol contributes to more than 200 health conditions and about 99,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Yet alcohol-related risks often go unaddressed in healthcare settings.

Of the 96,610 liver disease deaths among people ages 12 and older in 2023, 44.5% (43,004 deaths) involved alcohol. Among males, 58,846 liver disease deaths occurred, with 47.0% (27,684 deaths) involving alcohol. Among females, 37,764 liver disease deaths occurred, with 40.6% (15,319) involving alcohol. 1 Of the 56,975 cirrhosis deaths among people of all ages in 2023, 50.3% (28,632 deaths)...

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...