The Truth About the Health Benefits of Alcohol

myths people believe about alcoholism

Consuming alcohol during menopause can also increase the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis, says Dr. Jewel M. Kling, M.D., M.P.H., a physician with Mayo Clinic Women’s Health in Arizona. Completing a rehab program provides individuals with essential tools and healthy coping strategies to address their addiction. Aftercare support, sobriety support groups, and removing environmental and individual triggers can help maintain recovery. Some believe that because healthcare professionals legally prescribe medications to treat specific medical conditions, they are all safe and non-addictive.

Myth: Drinking one glass of alcohol a night has no impact on your health.

I am a passionate beer connoisseur with a deep appreciation for the art and science of brewing. With years of experience tasting and evaluating various beers, I love to share my opinions and insights 5 myths about alcohol with others and I am always eager to engage in lively discussions about my favorite beverage. So, while you may temporarily feel at ease in the moment, you can feel more stressed the day after.

Fact: Addiction is a complex disease involving changes in the brain.

  • Alcohol can also affect the brain’s reward center, leading to a cycle of addiction.
  • “Alcohol is also inflammatory and increases your risk of cancer and other diseases,” he says.
  • About 64,000 people were killed from issues related to drugs in 2016.

So while cold showers, hot coffee, and fresh air might feel a little refreshing to someone who has been drinking all night, none will make you sober. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot that people still misunderstand about drinking alcohol, which has deep roots and a complicated history in the U.S. If you drank alcoholic beverages the night before, the foremost thing you must do when you wake up is drink a glass of water. You’ll undoubtedly be more comfortable, but there’s also an excellent possibility that any remaining hangover symptoms will vanish.

Myth: Beer before liquor, never been sicker. Liquor before beer, in the clear.

Many people successfully overcome addiction and lead fulfilling and substance-free lives. At times addiction is portrayed as an incurable and lifelong condition. This leads people to believe that once someone becomes addicted, there is no hope for a full recovery. In most of the United States, your blood alcohol content (BAC) must be under 0.08% for you to legally drive.

myths people believe about alcoholism

Luckily, we’ve asked one of our very own alcohol research experts, Andrew Misell, to bust some of the more common misconceptions around alcohol and give us the full picture. This “illusion of warmth” can lead to riskier behavior, like not packing on enough layers or staying outside for too long. Regardless of what most people think, judging by research from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), just over a third of youths don’t consume alcohol often. Foods that typically serve to make energy turn to fat and are kept in your body rather than the calories can serve as a quick supply of energy.

Clinically, a great amount of prescription drugs are non-addictive however some medications have the potential to cause addiction if misused. Additionally, genetic predisposition, environmental influences, trauma, mental health conditions, and social factors contribute to the development of addiction. These factors make addiction a challenging and complex disease to overcome. A 2019 study of alcohol use in England found that people in professional managerial jobs had more occasions to drink than manual workers, casual workers, and unemployed people. Homeownership was also a strong predictor of alcohol consumption, according to the study.

Fact: Many prescription medications have the potential for abuse and addiction.

Only Time Will Help You Sober Up

myths people believe about alcoholism

myths people believe about alcoholism