Effects of Alcohol: Long- & Short-Term Effects of Alcohol Addiction

Effects of Alcohol

Long- & Short-Term Alcohol Effects

While alcohol is a powerful central nervous system depressant, its effects on the CNS are inconsistent. Sometimes, you might find alcohol makes you excitable – at a wedding reception or bar, for instance – while on other occasions, you might feel drowsy and sedated after drinking.

When you drink alcohol in smaller amounts, it suppresses the area of your brain associated with inhibition. Alcohol also affects core functions, such as:

• Breathing
• Memory
• Thinking
• Movement
• Speech

By: Renaissance Recovery

Clinically Reviewed by: Diana Vo, LMFT

Last Updated:

04/22/2026

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Alcohol?

If you’re not careful alcoholism can ruin your life. It leads to a number of dangerous physical and mental health problems. Specifically, abusing alcohol chronically over the long term causes permanent changes to brain structure and functioning. It can cause issues like:

• High blood pressure
• Cardiomyopathy
• Irregular heartbeat
• Alcohol hepatitis
• Liver fibrosis
• Reduced white and gray matter in the brain
• Memory loss
• Reduced attention span
• Increased alcoholic cravings
• Less gray matter in the brain
• Problems with learning
• Fatty liver (steatosis)
• Stroke
• Increased risk of various cancers

Along with these problems, one more recent problem that many people, even light drinkers, are dealing with is hangxiety. Hangxiety is a term used to describe the anxiety people feel after a night of drinking.

• Alcohol Addiction
• Withdrawal & Detox
• Treatment
• Alcohol Rehab in California

Effects of Long-Term Alcohol Abuse

Data shows that alcohol use disorder is linked to a variety of mental health conditions, including:

• GAD (generalized anxiety disorder)
• Other anxiety disorders
• Major depressive disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Schizophrenia

These disorders can occur independently from alcohol use disorder. When mental health conditions co-occur with alcohol use disorder, this is known as dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder.

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on the Body

Alcohol is a drug that affects nearly every organ in the body. From the pancreas to the liver to wet-brain syndrome, drinking alcohol in excess can lead to dangerous, even life-threatening consequences.

Alcohol is also a known carcinogen and is estimated to be responsible for 3.5% of all cancer deaths in the United States. It leads to increased risk of head and neck cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and more.

Fight Back Against Alcoholism

Get evidence-based treatment to overcome alcohol addiction at Renaissance Recovery. Call our team now to learn more about the process.

Effects of Alcohol on the Brain

Alcohol abuse can contribute to the development or worsening of a range of mental health disorders, including:

• Anxiety disorder
• Major depressive disorder
• Panic disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Antisocial personality disorder

Overcoming Alcohol Addiction with Renaissance Recovery

If you’re struggling with alcohol use disorder and you feel the time is right to reclaim your life, Renaissance Recovery’s California rehab is here to help.

Our outpatient programs give you flexibility, structure, and support without the expense of residential rehab. We also offer support with detox, aftercare programming, and more.

All you need to do to get started is call our addiction hotline today.

Don’t Battle Addiction On Your Own

At Renaissance Recovery, we’re here to help you overcome addiction so you can maintain a sober, happy life free from drugs & alcohol.

Our Alcohol Addiction Treatment Programs

• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
• Sober Living Homes and Communities

Sources

1. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health
2. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohols-effects-body