Published to Newsletter on Apr 27, 2023
Randall Starling, PhD
Campus Office of Substance and Alcohol Prevention
Have you ever contemplated the role of excessive drinking on health and society?
Excessive alcohol use, which includes binge drinking, is classified by 4 or more drinks for women, 5 or more for men within in a 2-hour window. Heavy drinking is classified as more than four drinks a day for men and more than three drinks a day for women or more than 14 drinks in a week for men and seven drinks in a week for women. This kind of drinking is linked to an increased risk of injuries, chronic diseases such as liver disease and heart disease, several cancers, and other short and long-term risks.
Nationally, excessive drinking is responsible for more than 140,000 deaths each year in the United States and the economic cost of excessive drinking is $250 billion annually.
At the state level, New Mexico has the highest alcohol-attributable death rate in the nation. How can you impact these rates? If you choose to drink, do so in moderation by taking in 2 drinks or less in a day for men or 1 drink or less in a day for women. These recommendations are not set in stone. Intoxication varies with size, body fat percentage and not just gender alone.
Also, faculty and staff can visit the UNM Campus Office on Substance and Alcohol Prevention for additional resources. If you have concerns about your drinking, other substance use, or mental health, contact UNM Counseling, Assistance and Referral Services (CARS).
If you or someone you know may be interested in alcohol research studies, visit the UNM Center on Alcohol, Substance use, And Addictions (UNM CASAA) or alcohol assessment and treatment services, visit UNM Alcohol Specialty Clinic, an outpatient alcohol-treatment clinic available to residents of Albuquerque and surrounding areas.
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