Risks

What are the risks associated with alcohol consumption?

The damage caused by alcohol abuse can be divided into two categories, depending on the type of consumption: the risks are immediate when a large quantity of alcohol is consumed all at once, or when the drinker is intoxicated, taking medication or suffering from a pathological condition, for example; whereas they are delayed and cumulative in the case of regular alcohol abuse (from 2-3 drinks a day, the body gradually wears itself out). The two types of excess can obviously overlap in the same person, who will then accumulate both types of risk. Of course, the more you drink, the more often you drink, the greater the risks, whether in the short, medium or long term. Combining alcohol and tobacco further increases alcohol-related risks, as does mixing alcohol and medication (link to level 3b) or alcohol and drugs (link to level 3c).

Immediate alcohol-related risks

The most frequent are accidents, whether at home, at work or on the road. Taking alcohol causes neurological disorders (reduced alertness, reflexes, balance, altered field of vision... and even drowsiness), leading to dangerous behavior with sometimes dramatic consequences.

The loss of self-control is also a source of immediate problems, as it leads to risky behaviour: acts of violence (towards oneself or others), loss of the ability to defend oneself, unprotected or unwanted sexual relations, delirium...

Finally, physical reactions can also occur: digestive problems, acute pancreatitis (to be checked by an expert) or alcoholic coma.

Medium- and long-term risks In the human body, alcohol infiltrates various organs and leaves its mark. These can include the liver (risk of cirrhosis, cancer..), muscles (slackening and weakening), the digestive system (risk of bleeding, ulcers and cancer of the mouth, throat and stomach), the heart and circulation (heart disease, blood pressure problems, strokes), the nervous system (nerve and brain damage leading to neurological disorders and mental illness), the sexual organs (risk of impotence and sterility, risk of foetal malformation in pregnant women) and the skin (inflammatory diseases, psoriasis). On a psychological level, too, the risks are very real: alcohol consumption can lead to reduced self-esteem and difficulties in asserting oneself, which in turn can lead to behavioral problems: impaired judgment, anger, nervousness, a tendency to isolate oneself or close oneself off, difficulties in confronting life's problems..

Finally, the "recurrent drinker" runs the risk of gradually sinking into dependence. Whatever the reason for consuming alcoholic beverages (for their taste or to relax, have fun, forget problems, relieve tension...), we do so essentially because we find an immediate benefit. Since these effects are short-lived, it's terribly tempting to take another dose to rediscover these pleasant sensations... and to take more each time we want to satisfy the original need (pleasure, conviviality, relaxation, forgetting, soothing)... or another! And that's how we slowly slide into psychological dependence. Quite often, the reasons why we drink change over time, insidiously, without our being fully aware of it. Some young people, for example, start by having a few drinks at a party with friends, just to get into the mood. After a few drinks, the idea of drinking becomes central, and if they organize parties, it's above all to have another opportunity to drink (too much). After a while, it becomes unimaginable for them to organize anything without alcohol, and impossible to have fun without drinking. Psychological dependence sets in, and from psychological dependence to alcoholism, the road is unfortunately clear..

Effects/risks of alcohol during pregnancy

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to numerous problems for babies: physical deformities, learning, attention, memory and/or behavioral deficits. Unlike many malformations,Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is 100% preventable through changes in maternal behavior.