Latest alcohol abuse research for primary care providers

Alcohol is the most common drug used and abused among adolescents in the United States, according to the CDC. Adolescents consume 11% of all alcohol in the country and 4,300 adolescents die each year due to excessive drinking.

This week is National Drug and Alcohol Facts week, which aims to shatter myths about drug and alcohol abuse. It is sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, both of which are part of the NIH.

Healio.com/Internal Medicine presents the latest research on alcohol abuse that physicians should know, including associated risks and possible treatments.

Mixing alcohol with energy drinks increases teen risk for substance use disorder

Teens who reported mixing alcohol with energy drinks were four times more likely to meet criteria for alcohol use disorder vs. teens who tried alcohol but never mixed it with an energy drink, according to a recent analysis. Read more.

Alcohol, tobacco account for greatest prevalence of addictions worldwide

A comprehensive report on global addiction and substance use disorders indicates tobacco and alcohol account for the greatest prevalence of addictions and cause the most harm. Read more.

Majority of adults with alcohol use disorder do not seek treatment

Researchers found that the prevalence of 12-month and lifetime alcohol use disorder affect more than 32 million and 68 million adults, respectively, in the United States, but only a small percent of these individuals ever receive treatment, according to recently published data in JAMA Psychiatry. Read more.

Policies to reduce youth alcohol consumption should target all ages

Alcohol policies that target all age groups are more likely to decrease the likelihood for youth alcohol consumption when compared with policies aimed specifically at youth, according to recent study findings. Read more.

Virtual reality therapy may improve alcohol dependence

A form of therapy utilizing virtual reality may be beneficial for patients with alcohol dependence, according to study findings in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Read more.

Alcohol consumption significantly increases risk for injury, cancer

Researchers from McMaster University in Canada discovered that overall, alcohol consumption significantly increases the risk for injury and alcohol-related cancers, and heavy alcohol consumption increases the risk for death. However, the combined risk of negative outcomes increased in low-income countries, but decreased in high-income countries. Read more.

Nearly 10% of Americans have lifetime drug use disorder

Nearly 10% of Americans have a lifetime DSM-5 drug use disorder, according to analysis of a cross-sectional nationally representative survey. Read more.

Rates of DUI significantly decrease among teens, young adults

Between 2002 and 2014, fewer adolescents and young adults drove under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or both, according to recently published data from the CDC. Read more.

Rates of drug, alcohol use among teens declining, marijuana use remains stable

Over the past 5 years, rates of alcohol, tobacco, opioids and synthetic marijuana use have declined among teenagers, while rates of marijuana and other illicit drug use have remained stable, according to recently published data. Read more.

Youth receptivity to Internet alcohol ads linked to future problem drinking

There is a prospective association between the degree to which underage youths are receptive to online alcohol marketing and future binge drinking, according to a study published in Pediatrics. Read more.