Alcohol is the most frequently abused drug throughout the world.In the United States, it is consumed regularly by about halfthe adult population, and about 15 to 20 million people arealcoholics. Alcoholism claims 100,000 lives annually and carriesan annual price tag of more than $100 billion.1 Among personsadmitted to general hospitals, 20 to 40 percent have alcohol-relatedproblems, and among the elderly, alcohol-related hospitalizationsare as numerous as those due to myocardial infarction.2
Alcohol permeates all tissues of the body and affects most vitalfunctions, because it is a small molecule soluble in both waterand . . . [Full Text of this Article]
Systemic Effects of Alcohol
Alcohol and Nutrition
Toxic Effects of Alcohol Oxidation
Interaction between Ethanol and Other Chemicals
Ethanol, Carcinogens, and Vitamin A
Effects of Sex, Hormones, Age, and Heredity on Alcohol Toxicity
Alcoholic Liver Injury
Pathogenesis
Treatment and Prevention
Effect of Alcohol on Other Organ Systems
Conclusions
Discussion
Source Information
From the Alcohol Research and Treatment Center, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y.
Address reprint requests to Dr. Lieber at the Alcohol Research and Treatment Center, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Rd., Bronx, NY 10468.
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