Excessive Alcohol Use

Excessive alcohol use remains leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States and are associated with negative health consequences.¹ Alcohol use during pregnancy can cause Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), a range of lifelong conditions that include physical and behavioral problems, as well as intellectual disabilities.

Excessive alcohol use includes:

• Binge Drinking
  • Woman: 4 or more drinks on an occasion
  • Man: 5 or more drinks on an occasion 
• Heavy Drinking
  • Woman: 8 or more drinks per week
  • Man: 15 or more drinks per week
• Any drinking in pregnant or underage individuals

Alcohol use often co-occurs with the usage of other substances, such as tobacco, marijuana, and illicit drugs. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct screenings for these additional substances in conjunction with alcohol. You can address alcohol and other substance use behavior using Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) technique. 

^References:

^{1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Excessive alcohol use. Reviewed July 11, 2022. Accessed June 6, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/alcohol.htm}

Recognize And Address Alcohol Misuse

These resources can help you develop strategies for prevention, screening, treatment and counseling. 

Other Alcohol Misuse Resources

AAFP Policies and Recommendations

• AAFP Clinical Preventive Service Recommendations: Alcohol Misuse
• AAFP Policies: Substance Abuse and Addiction
• AAFP Position Paper: Preconception Care

AAFP Journal Articles and Research Studies

• FPM: Incorporating Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention Into Practice
• FPM: Using Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention to Address Patients’ Risky Drinking
• AFP Collection: Alcohol Abuse and Dependence
• AAFP and National Research Network (NRN) Studies