One in three people may struggle with alcohol at some point in their lives, and globally, 2.6 million people die from alcohol-related causes each year.

The normalization of binge drinking, especially among young people, has serious health consequences that are often overlooked. We need to educate ourselves about the real harms of alcohol consumption.

Alcohol addiction is unique because it is socially acceptable and deeply ingrained in our culture, making it challenging for individuals to abstain without facing stigma.

Genetic predispositions, combined with environmental factors, contribute to the likelihood of developing alcohol use disorders. Certain Asian cultures have genetic differences that lead to low levels of alcohol dehydrogenase, causing individuals to feel sick and flushed when they consume alcohol.

Effective treatments for alcohol use disorder include medications that block opioid receptors, reducing the rewarding effects of alcohol consumption.

In cultures with higher alcohol dehydrogenase levels, individuals can drink more without feeling sick, which can lead to higher rates of alcoholism due to increased consumption.

Regular alcohol consumption can lead to inflammation in the brain and body, increasing the desire to drink more and exacerbating health issues.

Regular drinkers or those with a genetic predisposition to alcoholism may experience increased alertness and mood when consuming alcohol.

There's a lot of misinformation about how much alcohol is safe to drink, and many people are unaware of the actual risks involved.