Sept. 18, 2020&mdash;Knowledge is power when it comes to avoiding the potentially serious consequences of alcohol. For starters, check out these facts from the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.netreturns.biz/healthinfo/bouncelink.aspx?shortcut=nialcohol">National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism</a>.

1. Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the U.S. About 1 in every 17 adults struggles with an alcohol use disorder. Millions more engage in risky drinking.

2. Dangerous drinking does real damage. Consider a few stats about alcohol's extreme impacts:
<ul>
 <li>Excessive alcohol use is linked to 88,000 deaths per year.</li>
 <li>Alcohol is the third-leading preventable cause of death in the U.S.</li>
 <li>Alcohol misuse costs the U.S. about $249 billion per year.</li>
</ul>

3. Alcohol can cause serious health problems. For instance, binge drinking (drinking a lot of alcohol in a short amount of time) or heavy drinking (binge drinking on five or more days a month) can increase the risk of:
<ul>
 <li>Infections due to a weakened immune system.</li>
 <li>Stroke.</li>
 <li>Heart problems, such as irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure.</li>
 <li>Cancer, including liver, oral, esophageal and breast cancers.</li>
 <li>Liver disease, including cirrhosis.</li>
 <li>Pancreatitis.</li>
 <li>Alcohol use disorder.</li>
 <li>Car crashes and other accidents.</li>
 <li>Violent behavior.</li>
 <li>Suicide.</li>
</ul>

4. Alcohol use disorder has little to do with what you drink. Whether a person is dependent on beer, wine or liquor, they have an uncontrollable need for alcohol&mdash;a need that can feel as strong as a craving for food or water.

Know the warning signs

Could you be at risk for or already have a drinking problem? The following can help you find out. For example, you could have a drinking problem if, in the past year, you:
<ul>
 <li>Ever drank more, or for longer, than you intended.</li>
 <li>Unsuccessfully tried to cut back or stop more than once.</li>
 <li>Got into dangerous situations involving alcohol.</li>
 <li>Had to drink more to get the same buzz.</li>
 <li>Kept drinking even though it made you feel depressed or added to another health problem.</li>
 <li>Spent a lot of time drinking or recovering from a hangover.</li>
 <li>Kept drinking even though it was causing trouble with family or friends.</li>
 <li>Found that drinking interfered with home or work responsibilities.</li>
 <li>Missed out on other things you care about so you could drink.</li>
 <li>Had legal troubles because of drinking.</li>
</ul>

Ask for help

If you're concerned about your alcohol use&mdash;and you want to make a change&mdash;you don't have to go it alone. Your doctor can help you find treatment. Ask friends and family to support your decision too.

Addressing a drinking problem early can help it from getting much worse.

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Have your drinking habits changed during the pandemic? Give yourself a quick reality check with these four facts.