American Heart Month—Another Opportunity To Examine Your Relationship With Alcohol

February, which is American Heart Month and includes Valentine’s Day, serves as a good time to review the ways that alcohol misuse can damage a most vital organ—the heart. Research has demonstrated that long-term heavy drinking weakens the heart muscle, causing a disease called alcohol-associated cardiomyopathy, in which the left ventricle of the weakened heart dilates, stretches out, … Read more

Alcohol and Marijuana Use and Motivations Among Young Adults During the Pandemic

Stay-at-home and physical distancing orders during the COVID-19 pandemic have led to increased stress, anxiety, depression, and boredom, and reports suggest that some people may be consuming more alcohol as a coping mechanism. A recent study supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism now reveals changes in patterns of alcohol and marijuana … Read more

As Male and Female Drinking Patterns Become More Similar, Adverse Alcohol Risks for Women Become More Apparent

The steady near-equalization in patterns of alcohol use and misuse between women and men over the last decade has revealed women’s greater risks for alcohol-related consequences. A 2015 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)-led analysis of annual data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that differences in measures such as current … Read more

NIAAA Helps Healthcare Professionals Provide Better Care for Patients Who Drink Too Much

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is working on two fronts to help healthcare professionals gain knowledge about alcohol’s impact on health and ways to prevent, detect, and treat alcohol problems in their patients. Later this year, NIAAA plans to launch The Healthcare Professional’s Core Resource on Alcohol, which will provide succinct and … Read more

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Invites Input on 2022-2026 Strategic Plan Outline

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is currently developing a FY2022-2026 Strategic Plan to highlight priorities and guide activities for advancing the Institute’s mission over the next five years. NIAAA is pleased to announce the release of a Request for Information inviting comments on the draft outline. We are accepting comments until July … Read more

Life achievements linked to sustained recovery in nationally representative survey

Researchers funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recently found that many individuals in recovery for alcohol and other substance use disorders report life achievements, such as increased community engagement and enhanced well-being, with more achievements on average being reported with increased time in recovery. Similar to previous studies, achievements were associated … Read more