Journal: Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 2026, doi: 10.15288/jsad.25-00435
Authors: Sinead George, Timothy S. Naimi, Katherine Keyes, Priscilla Martinez-Matyszczyk, Adam J. Milam, Tomoko Udo, … & Kevin Shield
Abstract:
Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate the lifetime risk of alcohol-attributable mortality and morbidity in the United States based on a person’s average lifetime weekly alcohol consumption to assess the impact of per-occasion alcohol consumption on health.
Method: Lifetime risks were estimated using a cause-specific modeling approach that combined exposure data from national health surveys, relative risks, population data from the U.S. Census Bureau, mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and morbidity data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. A narrative review assessed the health impact of per-occasion alcohol consumption on health.
Results: At low levels of consumption, no protective net effect of alcohol consumption on health was observed. Elevated mortality and morbidity risks were associated with alcohol consumption starting at relatively low levels. Males consuming >6.5 (95% CI [<1, 13.5]) and females consuming >7.0 (95% CI [<1, 11.5]) drinks per week had life-time alcohol-attributable mortality risks >1:1,000. At >8.5 (95% CI [2.5, 13]) drinks per week for both males and females, these risks increased to >1:100. At 14 drinks per week for males (the upper limit of the former Dietary Guidelines for males), the risk of an alcohol-caused death was 1:25 (4%). Drinking patterns also impacted risk. Above 1 drink per occasion, higher consumption was associated with progressively increased risks of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and injury.
Conclusions: Alcohol consumption, including at what may be perceived as “moderate” levels, is associated with increased mortality and morbidity risks. These results support tightening alcohol use guidance in the United States, for both males and females, to no more than 1 drink per day.
Public health significance statement: The Alcohol Intake and Health Study shows that for Americans, even what is socially considered “moderate drinking” increases the risk of dying or developing health problems, helping people better understand the net health impact of alcohol. Furthermore, by identifying the levels of alcohol use that raise the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and injury, these findings can guide individuals, families, and communities in making safer choices about drinking patterns. The results also support changing the U.S. Dietary Guidelines on alcohol to recommend that current adult drinkers consume 1 drink or less in a day.
To read the full text of the article, please visit the publisher’s website.
Journal: Scientific Reports, 2026, doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-52597-2
Authors: Shirley Y. Hill, Gregg E. Homanics, Sean Farris, & Pedro L. Baldoni
Abstract:
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a highly prevalent condition that is globally associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Transmission of AUD across generations is well known. Adverse health effects of alcohol misuse in persons with AUD are also well known. The effect of alcohol misuse in previous generations on gene expression in offspring potentially leading to increased disease burden are largely unknown. We conducted a study of familial use of alcohol contrasting individuals without parents or grandparents with AUD with individuals with either a parent with AUD or both a parent and grandparent with AUD. The study controlled for important sources of variation by including individuals with samples banked in early adolescence before substantial use of alcohol and other substances occurred. Mothers of the participants were queried about their prenatal use of alcohol and other substances. We found a large number of highly significant differences in gene expression between controls and those with an AUD parent or AUD parent and grandparent, allowing us to conclude that preconception use of high levels of alcohol is associated with differences in gene expression in offspring blood. Pathway enrichment analyses revealed a statistical over representation in those involving the immune system and cancer development.
To read the full text of the article, please visit the publisher’s website.
Journal: Harm Reduction Journal, 2026, doi: 10.1186/ s12954-026-01482-2
Authors: Karli R. Hochstatter, Hannah Johnson, Megan Brown, Jan Gryczynski, Talia Nadel, & Jason Graham
Abstract:
Bereavement from loss related to drug poisoning, the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States, is associated with elevated risk for prolonged grief disorder, substance use, and poor mental health outcomes. Despite this, few interventions specifically target survivors of overdose loss. The Family Support Program (FSP) is a novel, social worker-delivered bereavement support service provided by the Drug Intelligence and Intervention Group of the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner for family, friends, and other close social network members bereaved by drug poisoning. The FSP integrates evidence-based components including motivational interviewing, psychoeducation, social support, and linkage to care to reduce grief-related distress and improve psychosocial functioning. This paper describes the development, implementation, and pilot-phase adaptations of the FSP, including program design, staffing strategies, data infrastructure, and lessons learned. This paper can guide medical examiner and coroner offices in developing responsive, trauma-informed services for individuals affected by drug poisoning loss.
To read the full text of the article, please visit the publisher’s website.
Journal: Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 2026, doi: 10.1037/adb0001165
Authors: Emily C. Helminen, Kriti Behari, Jillian R. Scheer, & Molly Magill
Abstract:
Objective: This study examined heterogeneity in the prevalence estimates of mental health, alcohol, and drug use outcomes across cisgender heterosexual subgroups and sexual and gender minority subgroups using a national probability sample.
Method: We conducted a secondary data analysis with the U.S. Transgender Population Health Survey (n = 1,436). We calculated prevalence estimates of serious psychological distress, suicidal ideation and attempts, elevated posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, hazardous alcohol use, hazardous drug use, and co-occurring outcomes across subgroups using cutoffs from common screening measures (e.g., three-item Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test). We then assessed disparities between sexual and gender minority subgroups and cisgender heterosexual men and women across outcomes and co-occurring outcomes.
Results: Suicidality was significantly higher across all sexual and gender minority subgroups compared with cisgender heterosexual subgroups. Cisgender sexual minority women, transgender sexual minority men and women, and nonbinary sexual minority people-subgroups with both oppressed sexual and gender identities who likely experience both sexual- and gender-based forms of oppression (e.g., homophobia, transphobia, sexism)-were significantly more likely than cisgender heterosexual subgroups to report most outcomes, including serious psychological distress, elevated posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and hazardous drug use. Nonbinary sexual minority people and cisgender sexual minority women consistently exhibited the largest disparities compared with cisgender heterosexual subgroups across most outcomes and co-occurring outcomes.
Conclusions: Findings highlight the importance of disaggregating across sexual and gender identity in probability samples to understand heterogeneity in prevalence estimates of mental health, alcohol, and drug use outcomes and identify subgroups in need of targeted health equity efforts.
To read the full text of the article, please visit PubMed Central.
Journal: Addiction, 2026, doi: 10.1111/add.70472
Authors: Joseph R. Friedman, Joseph J. Palamar, Daniel Ciccarone, Tommi L. Gaines, Annick Borquez, Chelsea L. Shover, & Steffanie A. Strathdee
Abstract:
Aims: To characterize decreases in overdose death rates in the United States (US) between 2023 and 2024 by race/ethnicity, and substance involvement.
Design: Population-based study of national death records accessed via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Wide-ranging ONline Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) platform using an underlying cause of death approach.
Setting: US.
Participants/cases: All individuals who died from drug overdose between January 1999 and December 2024.
Measurements: Annual overdose deaths per 100 000 population. Year of occurrence of overdose death, substance involvement, race/ethnicity of decedents.
Findings: After many years of increases, the US overdose death rate dropped 24.4% between 2023 and 2024. Decreases reflected declining illicit fentanyl-involved deaths (with and without stimulant involvement). The fourth wave of the US overdose crisis-defined by deaths involving fentanyl together with stimulants-declined for the first time in 2024. Despite overall decreases, deaths involving stimulants without fentanyl and deaths involving xylazine continued to represent a growing fraction of overdose fatalities. Non-Hispanic Black and African Americans had the largest decrease in death rates in 2023-2024, falling by 29.3% but remaining elevated at 36.0 per 100 000, 1.51 times higher than the national average of 23.7 per 100 000. Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native individuals had the highest overdose death rates rate in 2024, at 50.8 per 100 000, 2.15 times the national average rate, and experienced a below-average relative decrease of 20.1%.
Conclusions: All four previously defined waves of the US overdose crisis appear to be in decline, as deaths involving illicit fentanyl, with and without stimulants, dropped sharply between 2023 and 2024. Concurrently, the fraction of overdose deaths involving stimulants without fentanyl and those involving xylazine continued to increase. While racial disparities in drug overdose death rates narrowed slightly during this period, large gaps remain, with the highest overdose death rates among American Indian, Alaska Native, and Black individuals.
To read the full text of the article, please visit the publisher’s website.