For most people, one standard drink of alcohol reduces inhibitions and anxiety, making it easier to relax.

Emotional responses to alcohol also vary from person-to-person. Some people feel cheerful or excited, while others become depressed, or even aggressive.

The most common short-term effects of consuming alcohol can include:

• Flushed skin
• Impaired judgement and attention
• Reduced muscle control
• Slowed reflexes
• Slurred speech
• Distorted vision
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache, even migraines

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) occurs when an individual becomes dependent on alcohol.

Individuals with AUD experience problems controlling drinking and a preoccupation with alcohol. They often will continue to drink, regardless of negative consequences.

Heavy drinking over time can even disrupt healthy brain functions. It can alter how a person experiences pleasure and exercises judgement.

The most common long-term effects of consuming alcohol can include:

• Mental health concerns
• Increased risk of accidental self-harm or suicidality
• Weight gain and diabetes
• Impotence or other sexual performance issues
• Increased risk of certain cancers, including stomach, breast, throat, esophageal, and liver
• Fertility issues, including erectile disfunction
• Weakened immune system
• Brain damage or related conditions, such as stroke and dementia
• Heart conditions, such as high blood pressure and heart attacks
• Liver disease, such as cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, and liver failure

• Family History: People with a parent or other close relative that struggles with alcohol have an increased risk of AUD.
• Mental Health Conditions: Individuals with mental illness can develop co-occurring disorders. They are also at risk for negative interactions between alcohol and prescribed medications.
• Adolescents: Drinking alcohol during adolescence can interrupt or damage important brain development. Heavy drinking during these years directly correlates to an increased risk of developing AUD as an adult.
• Pregnancy: People who are pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding should not drink. Prenatal alcohol exposure at any level can cause lifelong disabilities.

Giving up alcohol can result in a range of symptoms, based on the severity of a person’s alcohol dependence.

Withdrawal symptoms can start within a few hours of a person’s last drink and can last for days or even weeks. These symptoms can include:

• Sweating
• Hypervigilance
• Tremors or seizures
• Nausea and vomiting
• Anxiety, often panic attacks
• Agitation and irritability
• Difficultly sleeping and concentrating
• Decreased appetite
• Delusions and hallucinations