What is Alcohol?
The alcohol in an alcoholic drink is ethanol, produced by fermenting grains, fruits, or other foods that contain sugar. Alcohol has been used as a beverage since prehistoric times. It is mentioned in ancient Egypt, Babylon, and many other societies.
Alcohol produces intoxication due to its chemical composition. Because alcohol molecules are so small, they easily disrupt the brain’s neurotransmitters. The body cannot store alcohol, so it is broken down by the liver and excreted in urine.

What Conditions is Alcohol Associated With?
Many people consume alcohol during recreational activities. Consumed infrequently, it may have few or no health effects. However, it is also associated with an extremely wide variety of dire health conditions, many of which are chronic and/or can be fatal.
About 15 million Americans suffer from an alcohol abuse disorder.
What’s more, only about 6.7% of people who have a drinking problem seek professional help. About 88,000 people die of alcohol-related causes every year. Problem drinking can result in physical dependence on alcohol.
Since alcohol consumption leads to reductions in reaction time, judgment, and decision-making, any episode of drinking can lead to harmful accidents or injury. However, most health risks of alcohol come from problem drinking, including binge drinking.
Conditions associated with long-term alcohol misuse include:
- High blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular events
- Cirrhosis (permanent scarring) of the liver caused by alcohol exposure
- A higher risk of certain cancers, including breast, mouth, throat, and liver
- Decline in cognitive performance, especially in learning and memory
- Greater likelihood of mental health complications like anxiety and depression
What Research Currently Exists on the Effects of Alcohol?
For many years, research around alcohol focused on the idea that it had health benefits if used in moderation. However, recent research is casting doubt on these long-held assumptions.
Over the last five years, scientific studies have confirmed the connection between even moderate alcohol use and premature death, cancer, stroke, and high blood pressure. Some studies also suggest that abstaining from alcohol can improve mental health.
In general, a scientific consensus is forming around the idea that zero alcohol consumption is the best approach for individuals who want to safeguard their overall health.
Why Are Further Clinical Trials on the Effects of Alcohol Important?
Alcohol and its risks have been researched extensively. However, there are still many areas where more findings are needed. 40%-60% of people treated for alcoholism eventually relapse. The precise brain chemistry involved in alcoholism and successfully abstaining from problem drinking are not understood. Quality of support for sufferers can be spotty.
A limited number of medications are available to help people with alcoholism. However, these are effective in only a fraction of cases.

Likewise, further research is necessary to support the anecdotal conclusions of treatment organizations, especially faith-based organizations, about the best way to provide social support during long-term treatment.
Current Clinical Trials on the Effects of Alcohol
This is the most recent list of clinical trials on the effects of alcohol submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov.
Alcohol clinical resources are developed by organizations worldwide. Watch this space for further information about alcohol studies that may lead to groundbreaking treatment. If you have a study to include on our site, contact our team.
- Environment and Alcohol: A Pilot Studyon June 15, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Alcohol Use Disorder Interventions: Behavioral: Evaluate the effects of Environmental Enrichment (EE) on alcohol consumption Sponsors: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Recruiting
- The Path Study: Cognitive and Inflammation Targeted Gut-brain Interventions in Alcohol; Probiotics, Alcohol, Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation, and HIV Studyon June 15, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Cognition; Gut Microbiome Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Probiotic Supplement; Device: Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) Sponsors: University of Florida; University of Miami; University of Louisville; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA); Exegi Pharma, LLC; Soterix Medical Recruiting
- Screening, Evaluation and Assessment (SEA) Protocol at the NIDA IRPon June 15, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Substance Use Disorder; Alcohol Use Disorder Sponsors: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Recruiting
- Evaluating Signs of Safety: A Deaf-Accessible Therapy Toolkit for AUD and Traumaon June 15, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: PTSD; Alcohol; Use, Problem Interventions: Behavioral: Seeking Safety + Signs of Safety toolkit; Behavioral: Treatment as usual Sponsors: University of Massachusetts, Worcester; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Recruiting
- Behavioral and Functional Task Development, Implementation, and Testingon June 15, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Alcohol Dependence; Alcohol Drinking; Alcoholism; Alcohol Use Disorder; Addiction Interventions: Device: 7T MRI Sponsors: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Recruiting
- SMART-r: Substance Monitoring and Active Relapse Tracking Repositoryon June 15, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Alcoholism; Substance-Related Disorders Sponsors: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Recruiting
- Adaptive Actions and Alcohol Use Outcomes During Internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapyon June 13, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Alcohol Misuse Interventions: Behavioral: Alcohol Change Course Enhanced Sponsors: University of Regina; Karolinska Institutet; Macquarie University, Australia; York University Recruiting
- Adapting and Piloting Behavioral Activation for Veterans With Alcohol Use Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorderon June 13, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Alcohol Use Disorder; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Interventions: Behavioral: Behavioral Activation (BA); Behavioral: Relapse Prevention (RP) Sponsors: RTI International; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA); Duke University Recruiting
- Role of Metal Ion Transporter ZIP8 in Alcohol-Related Behaviorson June 12, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Healthy Volunteer Interventions: Drug: Ethanol Sponsors: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Recruiting
- RECLAIM STUDY: A Phase 2 Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Pemvidutide in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in Subjects With Obesity or Overweighton June 12, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Interventions: Drug: Pemvidutide; Other: Placebo Sponsors: Altimmune, Inc. Recruiting
- Alcohol Treatment Outcomes Following Early vs. Standard Liver Transplant for SAHon June 12, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Alcohol Use Disorder; Alcoholic Hepatitis Interventions: Behavioral: Integrated AUD Treatment Sponsors: Johns Hopkins University; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Recruiting
- Suvorexant and Alcoholon June 11, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Alcohol Use Disorder Interventions: Drug: Alcohol; Drug: Placebo; Drug: Suvorexant; Drug: Suvorexant Sponsors: University of Kentucky; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Recruiting
Conclusion
Alcohol has been part of human history for thousands of years. However, modern medicine still has a long way to go in managing the serious health risks associated with it. More alcohol clinical studies are crucial for discovering the alcohol clinical resources millions of people need to stop drinking.
Content Box
- https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/alcohol.html
- https://www.alcoholproblemsandsolutions.org/history-of-alcohol-and-drinking-around-world/
- http://www.drinkingandyou.com/site/us/xdrunk.htm
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/30350860/the-science-of-alcohol-how-booze-affects-your-body
- https://www.verywellmind.com/prevalence-of-alcoholism-in-the-united-states-67876
- https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm