Alcohol

Quick Facts

What is alcohol?

Alcohol is produced by fermenting or distilling various fruits, vegetables, or grains.
Alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, which is a psychoactive and toxic substance with dependence-producing properties.
Alcohol has been consumed throughout the world for centuries. According to research, drinking alcohol in any amount carries a health risk and the risk goes up as the amount you drink goes up.
Across the United States, more than half (56%) of adults age 21 years and older report drinking alcohol in the past month, and nearly half of those drinkers across most age categories report binge drinking in the past month.
Alcohol accounts for approximately 100,000 deaths in the United States each year.

What are some street names for alcohol?

Liquor, Booze, Juice, Hooch, Liquid Courage, Giggle Juice/Giggle Water

What are the effects of short-term alcohol use?

Alcohol is a depressant, which means that it slows down brain activity. It can change your mood, behavior, and self-control and can cause problems with memory and thinking clearly. Alcohol can also affect your coordination and physical control.
Drinking excessively on any occasion can lead to these harmful health effects:
- Injuries – motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and burns
- Violence – homicide, suicide, sexual violence, and intimate partner violence
- Alcohol poisoning – high blood alcohol levels can affect body functions like breathing and heart rate
- Overdose – from alcohol use with other drugs, like opioids
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or unplanned pregnancy – alcohol use can lead to unprotected sex, which can cause these conditions
- Miscarriage, stillbirth, or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) – from alcohol use during pregnancy

What are the effects of long-term alcohol use?

Over time, drinking alcohol can have these effects:
- Cancer – the risk of developing at least 7 cancers increases with any amount of alcohol use
  - These cancers can include mouth (oral cavity), throat (pharynx), esophagus, voice box (larynx), breast, liver, and colon & rectum
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Liver disease
- Stroke
- Alcohol use disorder – this affects both physical and mental health
- Digestive problems
- Weaker immune system
- Mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety
- Learning problems, and issues at school or work
- Memory problems, including dementia
- Relationship problems with family and friends

What is excessive alcohol use?

Excessive alcohol use can be deadly and includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, underage drinking, and drinking while pregnant.

Heavy drinking is consuming 8 or more drinks for women, or 15 or more drinks for men during a week.
Drinking while pregnant is any alcohol use during pregnancy. Drinking during pregnancy may cause the unborn baby to have brain damage and other problems (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome).

Binge Drinking

Binge Drinking is defined as having 4 or more standard drinks, for women, and 5 or more standard drinks, for men, on a single occasion (2 to 3 hours).
Although college students commonly binge drink, 70% of binge drinking episodes involve adults aged 26 and older
Binge drinkers are 14 times more likely to report driving under the influence than non-binge drinkers
Almost 90% of the alcohol consumed by youth under the age of 21 in the U.S. is in the form of binge drinking

Binge drinking is associated with:

Unintentional injuries (car crashes, falls, burns, drowning)
Intentional injuries (sexual assault, domestic violence, firearm injuries)
Sexually transmitted diseases
Unintended pregnancies
Alcohol poisoning
Children born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Underage Drinking

Underage drinking is alcohol consumption by anyone under the age of 21 years of age.

Teens that have their first drink before age 15 are four times more likely to become alcohol dependent at some point in their lives than those that wait until they are 21 to drink (the rate of alcohol dependence drops the closer they get to 21).

What is moderate alcohol use?

For men – 2 drinks or less in a day
For women – 1 drink or less in a day
Keep in mind that any alcoholic beverages that you drink might have more than one standard drink of alcohol in it. Look at the graphic below to learn more about what a standard drink is.

$What is considered a \"drink\"? Beer, wine, malt liquor, and distilled spirits have different si$

When should I avoid alcohol?

Avoid all alcohol if you:
- Are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant
- Take medications that have side effects if you drink alcohol
- Have alcohol use disorder or are in recovery
- Have medical issues that alcohol can worsen
People under the age of 21 are not legally able to drink alcohol
Avoid alcohol when taking care of children
Avoid alcohol when driving or when you need to be alert and able to react to changing situations
Be sure to ask your healthcare professional about what’s right for your health and safety

Treatment options

By drinking less alcohol, you can improve your health and well-being.
Talk with your healthcare provider if you have concerns about your drinking.
Yamhill County Substance Use Programs offer a wide array of treatment options and programs for adults and youth, please visit our Alcohol and Drug Treatment page, or call 503-434-7523 for more information.

Rethink the Drink

One in five people in Oregon drink excessively. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) initiative "Rethink the Drink" offers information and resources to help individuals handle alcohol in healthier ways and to drink less.