April is Alcohol Awareness month – the perfect time to talk about the effects of alcohol consumption on our bodies and minds.
People drink alcohol for a variety of reasons. Some may drink to celebrate special occasions, to enjoy a night out with friends, or to wind down at the end of a long day. Others may lean on alcohol to “take the edge off” in social situations or cope with daily stress at work or at home, which can sometimes lead to alcohol dependence down the road.
Whatever the reason for drinking, it’s important to know that alcohol affects each person differently. Heavy drinking can be dangerous at any age, but even when drinking in moderation, the impact on your body and mind can change from one age group to the next.
Here, we’ll discuss the effects of alcohol on people of all ages, and how it can affect our mental and physical health in different ways at different stages of our lives.
And if you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol use and its effects, we’ll help you find the help you need to take back control and recover your health.
Effects of Alcohol on Mental Health
People often turn to alcohol as a way to cope with difficult emotions like stress, grief, anger, or loneliness. But the unfortunate truth is, while alcohol use may provide a temporary sense of escape, it can actually worsen your mental health.
How does alcohol affect mental health?
Even if you haven’t suffered from mental health problems before, there are links between alcohol misuse and the development of mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. And if you already struggle with mental health issues, drinking can worsen them.
Mental health effects on young people
According to the CDC, alcohol is the most common drug among teens in the US, and the reasons range from peer pressure, stress, and curiosity, to media influence and early exposure to drinking at home.
When a young person’s brain is exposed to excessive alcohol, they’re at higher risk of experiencing long-term emotional issues, learning problems, or issues with memory.
Alcohol can affect young people’s mental health in the following ways:
- Changes in mood: Young drinkers tend to experience higher levels of anger, irritability, anxiety, and symptoms of depression like low energy or loss of interest in self-care or daily activities.
- Higher risk of AUD: Research shows that people who start drinking below the age of 15 are more likely to develop alcohol use disorder (AUD) later in life.
- Higher risk of MDD: Another report indicates that adolescent drinkers are more likely to experience symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD), especially if they’re binge drinking.
The good news is, with the right support, young people can learn to make healthier choices and recover from alcohol dependency and its negative effects.
Mental health effects on older people
As we grow older, we might feel less vulnerable to the negative effects of alcohol, but we don’t outgrow them. There are still serious risks to consider. Alcohol use can worsen mental health conditions like these, leading to more severe symptoms as we age:
- Cognitive decline: According to the NIAAA, older people are more likely to experience problems with memory, judgment, and concentration.
- Anxiety disorders: Excessive alcohol use can cause, trigger, or worsen symptoms of anxiety, including persistent worry, extreme fear, or recurring panic.
- Major depressive disorder (MDD): Adults who drink are more likely to experience MDD symptoms like low mood, low energy, irritability, difficulty concentrating, loss of pleasure in many activities, and thoughts of hopelessness or worthlessness.
- Bipolar disorder (BD): Alcohol misuse may worsen the effects of bipolar disorder, associated with cycles of mania and hypomania, with or without depressive episodes.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Excessive alcohol use impairs sleep, cognition, and the ability to regulate our nervous systems in an agitated state, making it more difficult to cope with PTSD symptoms.
Remember, it’s never too late to get help. Whether you’re struggling with mental health, heavy drinking, or both, resources are available to help you recover.
Physical Effects of Drinking Alcohol
Drinking alcohol increases your risk of developing certain diseases and illnesses. What’s more, as a neurotoxin, it impairs your judgment and motor control, making you more vulnerable to injuries or accidents.
Physical effects for a young person
Alcohol can be particularly dangerous for the developing brains and bodies of teens and adolescents.
- Higher risk of injury: When under the influence of alcohol, the chances of being in an accident are higher than usual. Slower reflexes and poor coordination mean risky decisions can be life-threatening. Car crashes are the leading cause of teenage death in the US, with a third being involved in underage drinking.
- Slower physical development: Alcohol use interferes with the brain functions responsible for puberty and adolescent growth.
- Slower brain development: Alcohol slows cognitive function – especially in a developing brain – causing memory issues and difficulty concentrating.
- Alcohol-Related Brain Damage (ARBD): When young people drink excessively, they’re more likely to develop ARBD, a serious condition impacting learning ability, memory, and balance.
There are minimum age requirements for drinking alcohol for a reason. Young brains and bodies are more vulnerable to the physical risks involved.
Physical effects of alcohol as we age
The older we get, the more vulnerable our bodies are to injury and disease – and alcohol doesn’t help.
- Increased risk of disease: According to the NIAAA, alcohol increases your risk of heart disease, certain cancers, strokes, and liver damage. And it worsens pre-existing medical conditions common with aging like chronic pain, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
- Increased risk of breast cancer: Research shows a 10% relative risk increase in breast cancer for women who drink just one alcoholic drink per day.
- Medication: Alcohol can interfere with certain medications, making them dangerous or even fatal to mix.
As we age, the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol declines, so compared to younger people, you’ll have a much higher blood alcohol concentration and won’t be able to dispel it from your system as quickly as you used to.
This means older people have a higher sensitivity to alcohol, feeling the effects of drinking – slow reaction times, dizziness, and blurred vision – for longer.
Taking the Next Steps
Maybe you’ve noticed an increased dependency on alcohol, you’ve seen a loved one behaving differently, or you simply just have a hunch. Whichever it is, there’s hope for recovery.
Questions to ask yourself
If you’re worried that you – or someone you know – may be dealing with an alcohol issue, ask yourself the following questions
- Am I drinking to change my mood?
- How do I feel after drinking?
- Is my drinking affecting my day-to-day life or my relationships?
Taking an honest look at our habits is often the first step in the right direction.
Related: Is it safe to quit alcohol or drugs by yourself?
Who Can You Turn to for Support?
If you or someone you know is struggling, Region Five Crisis & Counselling Services is here to help. We offer a range of physical and mental health services to help those struggling with alcohol and substance abuse.
The Crisis Receiving Center is a 24/7 Emergency Behavioral Health service, offering urgent support and care for those in need. Or reach out to our crisis helpline now at (757) 656-7755.
