Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive substance known for its addictive potential.
In many modern societies, alcoholic beverages have become a common aspect of social life for a significant portion of the population. This is especially evident in high-profile social environments, both nationally and internationally, where alcohol is often part of social gatherings. In such contexts, the harmful effects of alcohol on health and society can easily be underestimated or overlooked.
Each year, alcohol consumption contributes to 2.6 million deaths worldwide and significantly impacts the health and well-being of millions more. Globally, harmful alcohol use accounts for 4.7% of the overall disease burden.
Among males and females, harmful alcohol use is responsible for 6.9% and 2.0% of the global disease burden, respectively.
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It is the leading cause of premature death and disability among individuals aged 20 to 39, accounting for 13% of all deaths in this age group.
Disadvantaged and vulnerable populations experience higher rates of alcohol-related mortality and hospitalization.
Since any alcohol use is associated with some short-term and long-term health risks, it is difficult to define universally applicable population-based thresholds for low-risk drinking
Alcohol is an intoxicant that impacts numerous structures and processes within the central nervous system, increasing the likelihood of both intentional and unintentional injuries, as well as negative social consequences. It also exerts harmful effects on the digestive and cardiovascular systems.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies alcoholic beverages as carcinogenic, linking them to an elevated risk of various types of cancer. Furthermore, alcohol acts as an immunosuppressant, heightening the vulnerability to communicable diseases like tuberculosis and HIV.
The risk of health and social harms from alcohol is influenced by both the total volume consumed over a lifetime and the patterns of drinking, such as the context, frequency, and amount consumed per occasion.
These risks rise in a dose-dependent manner with the volume and frequency of alcohol intake and escalate exponentially with high amounts consumed in a single session. Illegally produced and surrogate alcohols pose additional risks due to toxic contaminants.
Given that any level of alcohol consumption carries both short-term and long-term health risks, defining universal, population-based thresholds for low-risk drinking is challenging.
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