About Alcohol abuse, the Awareness Week on Alcohol Related Harm is approaching

The public health aspects of the problems associated with alcohol use and abuse are exploding. Around 12% of cancer cases worldwide are linked to alcohol consumption, and Europe is the world’s heaviest drinking region.

Alcohol abuse has devastated many lives and significantly harmed many patients and families. Abuse of the ‘social drug’ alcohol has long-term consequences for all aspects of our society.

However, there are so many benefits to drinking less alcohol. Many alcohol-related health risks do not appear until later in life. Drinking less will reduce our risk of developing severe health issues such as cancer, liver, or heart disease and could contribute to lowering our blood pressure. Besides, Alcohol can contribute to the development of mental health difficulties, as well as making existing problems worse. Reducing alcohol intake could, therefore, improve our mental health. Alcohol also has a high-calorie content and so, regularly drinking increases your calorie intake. Reducing how much we consume and how often and opting for low-calorie alternatives can contribute to maintaining a healthy weight and appearance. Finally, yet importantly, we should consider the positive effect on our energy levels and our ability to concentrate.

We should be sure that these messages also get to the new generations.

Regarding the younger, check out the results from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs in collaboration with the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA).

ESPAD Report 2019 — Results from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs