The Impact of Alcohol Use on Physical Health

Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are one of the most common forms of substance use disorders (SAMHSA, 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2021). This is in part due to social approval of moderate drinking and early age of drinking onset. This as well as widespread legal access makes AUD a severe, worldwide problem. Importantly those with AUD and with alcohol misuse are documented to have significant physical comorbidities and commonly comorbid psychiatric and other substance use disorders (World Health Organization, Global status report on alcohol and health—2018, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2018). Moreover, those with AUD commonly receive suboptimal care as a result of negative attitudes of healthcare providers toward persons with SUD, which further complicates the physical health of patients with AUD (Acevedo et al., J Ethn Subst Abuse 11:1–21, 2012). Here, we will review the marked impact that alcohol use has on physical health.