Patient Resources
Get Healthy!
Results for search "Alcohol Abuse".
Health News Results - 149
Heavy Drinking Could Raise Your Risk for Frailty: Study
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- May 25, 2023
- Full Page
Drinking heavily while younger puts you at risk for muscle loss and frailty later in life, new research suggests.
These findings are another reason to cut back on the booze, according to the research team from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the United Kingdom.
Vaping Could Up Teens' Odds for Marijuana Use, Binge Drinking
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- May 18, 2023
- Full Page
Teens who use electronic cigarettes are significantly more likely than non-vapers to binge-drink and use cannabis, new research finds.
Surveys of teens ages 13 to 18 revealed that vapers were 20 times more likely to use marijuana than teens who used no nicotine prod...
Exercise Could Be an Antidote to Addiction, Data Suggests
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- April 27, 2023
- Full Page
Exercise might help people who are battling addiction stay on the straight and narrow, a new research review finds.
Investigators who analyzed 43 studies from around the world found a link between physical activity and reduced substance use among people in treatment for ...
Million-Person Study Finds Genes Common to Many Addiction Disorders
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 24, 2023
- Full Page
Breakthrough research shows genetic markers for substance abuse and could lead to more effective ways to prevent and treat drug and alcohol use disorders.
These findings could help people wh...
From a Lock of Hair, Beethoven's Genome Gives Clues to Health, Family
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- March 22, 2023
- Full Page
Genetic analysis of Ludwig van Beethoven's hair has provided new clues into the cause of the great composer's death in 1827 — as well as evidence of a family scandal.
The analysis revealed that Beethoven suffered from a hepatitis B infection that could have contributed...
Alcohol Might Speed Alzheimer's Progress in Brain, Animal Study Suggests
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- February 22, 2023
- Full Page
Even modest drinking can speed up the loss of brain cells and formation of the plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, research in mice shows.
These plaques are an accumulation of toxic proteins.
“These findings suggest alcohol might accelerate the pa...
In New Documentary, Michael J. Fox Describes Hiding Parkinson's, Struggles With Alcohol
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- January 23, 2023
- Full Page
Actor Michael J. Fox details his experiences with Parkinson's disease, including turning to alcohol and pills in an attempt to cope, in a new documentary.
Fox, 61, has had the degenerative brain disorder since 1991, but didn't disclose it publicly until 1998.
The...
Could Weight-Loss Surgery in Teens Raise Risks for Alcohol Abuse?
- Gary Loss HealthDay Reporter
- January 6, 2023
- Full Page
For teens who are obese, weight-loss surgery can be life-changing — but not always in a good way.
A new study finds a troubling downside to weight-loss surgery among 13- to 19-year-olds: They're at increased risk of alcohol use disorders. And their risk stays higher fo...
How a 'Dry January' Could Help Your Health
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- January 5, 2023
- Full Page
Having a “dry January,” or giving up alcohol for the first month of the year, is a trend.
And it's not a bad idea, according to a drug and alcohol rehab counselor with Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
Even in Advanced Liver Disease, It's Never Too Late to Quit Alcohol
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- December 15, 2022
- Full Page
Quitting alcohol can help reduce complications of liver cirrhosis, even in patients who have advanced disease. It can also help them live longer, new research shows.
"Our results clearly show that all patients with alcohol-related liver cirrhosis who maintain sustained ...
Odds for Early Death Rise After Severe Injury Linked to Alcohol
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- December 12, 2022
- Full Page
Before you toast the holiday season with too much alcohol, here's a sobering thought.
Folks who get injured severely enough while intoxicated to require hospital treatment are five times more likely to die in the coming year, according to new research published in
Few Americans Understand Alcohol's Impact on Cancer Risk: Survey
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- December 2, 2022
- Full Page
Alcohol increases the risk of cancer, but some Americans think it does the opposite, a new study shows.
Researchers set out to understand people's awareness of the links between alcohol and cancer, finding that many would benefit from further education on the issue.
Drinking Rates Crept Up in U.S. States Once Weed Was Made Legal
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- November 29, 2022
- Full Page
Could unfettered access to marijuana fuel a rise in drinking rates?
Yes, report researchers who found alcohol consumption increased at times and in places where marijuana was made legal for certain groups.
The increase in drinking was mostly driven by young adults ...
Alcohol-Linked Deaths Soared During Pandemic, CDC Says
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- November 4, 2022
- Full Page
Deaths caused by alcohol skyrocketed in the United States between 2019 and 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, according to a just-published government report.
The alcohol-induced death rate jumped 26% during that period, claiming more than 49,000 lives, the
Alcohol to Blame for 1 in 5 Young Adult Deaths in U.S.
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- November 1, 2022
- Full Page
For anyone who thinks alcoholism isn't a deadly disease, a new government report shows alcohol abuse caused nearly 13% of deaths in American adults under 65 between 2015 and 2019.
The statistics were even more grim among younger U.S. adults: In people aged 20 to 49, alco...
Magic Mushroom Hallucinogen May Treat Problem Drinking
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- August 24, 2022
- Full Page
Jon Kostas, a lifelong resident of New York City, started bar-hopping at age 13. At the height of his alcoholism, he was consuming as many as 30 drinks a night.
Desperate for a way out, Kostas, 32, turned to a new therapy: psilocybin -- the
Veterans Often Reluctant to Admit Struggles With Sleep, Addictions
- By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- August 16, 2022
- Full Page
A new study of U.S. military veterans reveals they are more comfortable getting help for physical ills than for mental health issues.
"The majority of participants indicated they would be willing to seek treatment for both physical and mental health problems. However, th...
8/8 -- Could Quit-Smoking Meds Help You Quit Drinking, Too?
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- August 3, 2022
- Full Page
Pills, patches, gums, nasal sprays and lozenges used to help smokers kick the habit can also help heavy drinkers cut back on alcohol, a new study suggests.
The fi...
Lonely Childhoods Make Adult Drinking Problems More Likely
- By Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling HealthDay Reporter
- July 20, 2022
- Full Page
Having friends in childhood may help keep you clean and sober as a young adult, new research suggests.
Researchers from Arizona State University (ASU) interviewed more than 300 college students who participated in assessments that focused on childhood loneliness, stress ...
Drinking Alone in Youth a Big Sign for Future Problems
- By Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling HealthDay Reporter
- July 12, 2022
- Full Page
Drinking by yourself may have lifelong consequences, especially if the habit begins early in life, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that drinking alone during adolescence and young adulthood greatly increases risk for alcohol use disorder later on and the risk for...
What Drives Doctors to Take Their Own Lives
- By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- July 5, 2022
- Full Page
Doctor burnout and suicide are a growing concern, a new study finds.
"We often overlook the physical health of our health care workers, but poor health can lead to difficulty performing tasks at work, which then leads to job stress and mental health issues," said corresp...
U.S. Death Rate From Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis Triples Over Two Decades
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- June 20, 2022
- Full Page
Americans may have a collective drinking problem, made worse by the obesity epidemic, new research suggests. The new study found that deaths from alcoholic cir...
Weekend Binge Drinking: Not as Harmless as You Think
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- June 13, 2022
- Full Page
Many may consider an episode of binge drinking -- defined as 5 or more drinks on one occasion --- as just being harmless fun. But a new study suggests that even moderate drinkers who indulge in binge drinking can suffer lasting consequences.
Researchers found that among ...
Smoking Rates Drop for Americans Battling Depression, Substance Abuse
- By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
- April 27, 2022
- Full Page
Folks who struggle with depression and substance use disorders often tend to be smokers, but a new study finds that smoking ...
AI May Help Spot Relapse Risk in Alcoholics
- By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
- April 19, 2022
- Full Page
Artificial intelligence (AI) may be able to identify alcoholics at risk of relapsing after treatment, researchers say.
Patients often return to heavy drinking during and after treatment, and may require multiple tries before they can achieve long-term abstinence from
How Too Much Drinking Harms the Liver
- By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
- April 16, 2022
- Full Page
As Americans stepped up their drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic, liver disease and transplants surged.
Between March 2020 and January 2021, the number of U.S. patients with alcohol-associated liver disease who received a new liver or were wait-listed for a transplant...
Problem Drinking to Blame for 232 Million Missed Workdays in U.S. Annually
- March 21, 2022
- Full Page
Problem drinking led to more than 232 million missed work days a year in the United States before the pandemic, and the situation likely became worse with more people working at home, a new study suggests.
Army Reservists Can Face Alcohol Issues After Deployment, With Little Support
- March 10, 2022
- Full Page
U.S. National Guard soldiers are at heightened risk for problem drinking after military deployment, but less likely to receive help with their alcohol struggles than active-duty service members, a new study finds.
Exposure to combat during deployment was the strongest ri...
Even a Little Drinking Ages the Brain: Study
- March 7, 2022
- Full Page
There is no amount of alcohol that is good for your brain.
So claims a new study that found even light to moderate drinking can age the brain faster than normal.
Previous...
Autism, ADHD Raise the Odds for Early Death
- February 17, 2022
- Full Page
Young people with autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a higher risk of dying early from a range of causes, a new research review suggests.
Researchers found that before middle-age, people with autism face higher-than-average rates of death from...
Big Spike in Alcoholic Liver Disease Early in Pandemic
- February 14, 2022
- Full Page
The early months of the COVID-19 pandemic brought a big jump in hospitalizations for life-threatening alcoholic hepatitis at a Detroit health system, new research shows.
Many Who Use Both Pot & Booze Say They've Driven Intoxicated
- February 8, 2022
- Full Page
Among U.S. drivers who use both alcohol and pot, over 40% say they've driven under the influence, a new study finds.
"Alcohol and cannabis are two of the most common substances involved in impaired driving and motor vehicle crashes in the U.S.," said study author Priscil...
Driving Both High and Drunk More Dangerous Than Either Alone: Study
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- January 31, 2022
- Full Page
The hazards of drunken driving are well known, and a new research review shows that adding pot to the mix only makes matters worse.
The analysis of 57 past studies found that the
Could Binge Drinking Set Your Heart Rhythm Off-Kilter?
- Robert Preidt
- January 13, 2022
- Full Page
Binge drinking on Super Bowl Sunday or other special occasions could put you at risk for a dangerous heart rhythm disorder called atrial fibrillation (a-fib), even if you've never had it, researchers warn in a new study.
"Worldwide, alcohol is the most popularly consumed...
There Are No Hangover Cures, Scientists Say
- Cara Murez
- January 3, 2022
- Full Page
Here's a lesson many may have already learned over the past weekend: Don't count on ginseng, probiotics or any other so-called hangover cures.
No evidence suggests hangover cures work, according to British scientists who studied nearly two dozen trials of these cure prod...
Too Much Auld Lang Syne: Avoiding That New Year's Hangover
- December 31, 2021
- Full Page
Party people should think twice before relying on a fly-by-night remedy to cure the hangover they suffer from a New Year's Eve bender, warns an ER doc based in the Big Apple.
"There are a plethora of hangover products on the market that tout the ability to reduce the cha...
Heavier Drinking During Pandemic Means More Liver Disease to Come
- December 24, 2021
- Full Page
It's clear that COVID-19 has killed many hundreds of thousands of people in the United States. Less clear is its impact on other health issues, which will be felt in the years to come.
Liver disease is projected to be one of those, with 8,000 additional deaths from
Americans' Stigma Against Depression May Finally Be Fading: Study
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- December 22, 2021
- Full Page
Americans may be dropping some of the stigma they once had toward depression, but attitudes toward other mental health conditions still seem stuck in the past, a new study shows.
The research, based on interviews with U.S. adults conducted over 22 years, found a mixed ba...
Stress May Be Stronger Trigger for Problem Drinking in Women Than Men
- Robert Preidt
- December 15, 2021
- Full Page
When someone says "I need a drink," it's usually because they've had a rough day. Now, new research suggests that stress is more likely to trigger heavy drinking in women than in men.
"Some people can intend to have one or two alcoholic beverages and stop drinking, but o...
Half of Drinkers Who Think They're Fit to Drive Are Wrong: Study
- Robert Preidt
- December 8, 2021
- Full Page
If you think you're fine to drive after drinking, there's a good chance you're wrong, new research shows.
The study found that despite being over the legal driving limit, half of the participants believed they were safe to drive.
The study included 90 volunteers, a...
Drug Long Used for Alcoholism Might Fight Severe COVID-19
- Robert Preidt
- November 23, 2021
- Full Page
A widely available drug used to treat alcoholism has potential as a COVID-19 treatment, researchers say.
The investigators found that people taking disulfiram (Antabuse) for alcoholism had a lower risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 and were less likely to die from COVID-1...
Ridesharing Services May Be Lowering Drunk Driving Deaths
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- November 22, 2021
- Full Page
Don't drive drunk. That's simple and obvious advice. And it appears ridesharing services are making it easier for people to take it.
In a new study that looked at Chicago data, more rideshare trips meant fewer alcohol-involved crashes.
"This study was designed to l...
Demand for Liver Transplant Rises Sharply Among Older Americans
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- November 17, 2021
- Full Page
More older folks are winding up on liver transplant waiting lists than ever before, as obesity and alcoholism supersede hepatitis C as the main cause of liver failure in the United States.
The percentage of liver transplant candidates aged 65 or older rose from 9% in the...
Trauma in Childhood Can Harm Health for a Lifetime: Study
- Robert Preidt
- November 15, 2021
- Full Page
As if suffering through a childhood trauma weren't enough, new research suggests it might raise the risk of poor mental and physical health later in life.
Researchers analyzed nearly 2,900 responses to the 2019 New Zealand Family Violence Survey and found that about 45% ...
Liver Transplants Soar as Some Americans Drink Their Way Through the Pandemic
- Robert Preidt
- October 27, 2021
- Full Page
Demand for liver transplants among heavy drinking Americans surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study shows.
It found that the number of people with alcoholic hepatitis who received a new liver (32,320) or were put on a liver transplant waiting list (51,488) betwe...
Stimulants Like Ritalin May Be Gateway Drugs for College Students
- Cara Murez
- October 8, 2021
- Full Page
Use of stimulants among college students was once thought to be a problem among high achievers seeking energy and focus to study.
Not so, according to new research that links misuse of these so-called "study drugs" to binge drinking and marijuana use. The stereotype of s...
'Breakthrough' COVID More Likely in People With Problem Drug, Alcohol Use
- Robert Preidt
- October 6, 2021
- Full Page
Drug and alcohol abuse increase the risk of breakthrough COVID-19 infection as well as severe illness and death among fully vaccinated people, a new study shows.
"First and foremost, vaccination is highly effective for people with substance use disorders, and the overall...
Smoking, Drinking Gateway to Pot, Study Finds
- Steven Reinberg
- September 30, 2021
- Full Page
For those who smoke or drink, it's only a small step to marijuana, researchers report.
"Legal consumption of alcohol and tobacco may directly increase the level of illicit drug use. However, the relationships are complex," said researcher Dr. Zoe Reed. She is a senior re...
Do Your Genes Up Your Odds for Alcoholism? One Factor Cuts the Risk
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- September 16, 2021
- Full Page
Even when genetics and personality are working against you, having a strong network of supportive friends and family may help lower alcoholism risk, researchers say.
"Genes play an important role in alcohol use," stressed Jinni Su, an assistant professor of psychology at...
Half of Adults With ADHD Have Struggled With Alcohol, Drug Use
- Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
- August 30, 2021
- Full Page
Fully half of all young adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may also battle alcohol or drug abuse.
And folks with ADHD who have a history of depression or anxiety are particularly vulnerable to substance abuse problems, a new study showed.
...