Alcohol

Terms to know

  • Alcohol use disorder (AUD)– a medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use, despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. It is a spectrum disorder and can be mild, moderate, or severe.
  • Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) – Percentage of ethyl alcohol present in the bloodstream after consuming alcoholic beverages.
  • Binge drinking–  a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 percent or higher. Binge drinking consists of consuming 4 or more drinks (female), or 5 or more drinks (male) in about 2 hours.
  • Alcohol-induced blackouts– occurs when a person is conscious, but don’t remember what happened while they were intoxicated. They can be dangerous and increase a person’s risk of injury and other harms. 
  • Hangovers- a set of symptoms that occur as a consequence of drinking too much.
    • Typical symptoms include fatigue, weakness, thirst, headache, muscle aches, nausea, and stomach pain. Other symptoms include vertigo, sensitivity to light and sound, anxiety, irritability, sweating, and increased blood pressure. 
  • Alcohol overdose– occurs when there is so much alcohol in the bloodstream that basic life-support functions (i.e. breathing, heart rate, and temperature control) begin to shut down. It is a medical emergency.

Current statistics

Source- Source- 2023 Companion Infographic Report: Results from the 2021, 2022, and 2023 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (pg. 5)

For additional statistics, click here and here.

Alcohol use effects on the body

Source- NIAAA

  • For more information about alcohol use impact on health, click here.
  • For information about alcohol and it’s affect on the brain, click here.
  • For information about alcohol and it’s affect on pregnancy, click here.

What is a standard drink?

  • BAC 0.02 – light to moderate drinkers feel some effects
  • BAC 0.08 – definite impairment of muscle coordination and driving skills. Intoxication is legally defined.
  • BAC 0.12 – vomiting usually occurs
  • BAC 0.40 – most lose conscious and some die
  • BAC 0.50 – coma or death occurs

Source- NIAAA

Drinking Patterns

Source- NIAAA

Signs of drinking too much

  • You drink more or longer than you intended.
  • You try to cut down or stop drinking, but are not able to.
  • You need to drink more than you once did, to get the effect you want.
  • You continue to drink even though it makes you feel depressed or anxious ― or adds to another health problem.
  • Loved ones or trusted friends have made comments about your drinking.
  • You spend a lot of time drinking or thinking about alcohol.
  • You find that drinking interferes with daily activities, family, friends, or work.
  • You have had legal problems due to drinking.
  • You have experienced symptoms of withdrawal when you don’t drink (such as shakiness, sweating, tremors, headaches, anxiety, irritability, and/or insomnia).

Source- SAMHSA

Alcohol overdose (aka poisoning)

Symptoms of alcohol overdose
  • Mental confusion, difficulty remaining conscious, severe vomiting, seizure.
  • Life threatening symptoms include trouble breathing, slow heart rate, clammy skin, dulled responses (i.e. no gag reflex), and extremely low body temperature.
  • Alcohol overdose can lead to permanent brain damage or death.
How to respond to an alcohol overdose
  • If someone has been drinking and shows ANY of these symptoms, CALL 911!
  • Place the person on his/her side with knees bent so they don’t choke on vomit.
  • Keep checking on the the person to make sure they are breathing.
  • Do not leave the person alone* and stay with them until medical help arrives.

Source- NIAAA

Check your Alcohol Use

  • Set a daily and weekly drinking limit.
  • Write down your limit and keep it with you.
  • Record how much you drink each day.
  • Avoid situations and triggers that cause you to drink.
  • Ask a friend to help you stay within your limit.
  • Talk with a doctor about your alcohol use.

Source- SAMHSA

Prevention tips and support

Parents and caregivers
Community members and agencies

Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help

Resources in multiple languages**

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

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