ALCOHOL & CANCER: FACT OR FICTION?

One in a series of Project Community articles to provide teens and families with information and programs they need before tragedy strikes. This year marks the 40th Anniversary of Project Community in Pelham!

Fact: “Those who start drinking alcohol at an earlier age are more likely to have severe alcohol use problems.”

When looking at the effects of alcohol abuse on brain maturation, studies in youth suggest that early alcohol abuse correlates with cognitive impairments in verbal, non-verbal and spatial working memory, attention and executive functions as well as structural and functional differences in the brain. Additionally, those who start drinking at an earlier age (e.g., age 14 versus age 21) are more likely to exhibit alcohol dependence within 10 years (BMC Psychiatry, 2016).

Fiction: “Red wine is healthy for you.”

Scientists and doctors for years considered red wine a health food, linking moderate alcohol consumption to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, as well as increased life expectancy. However, moderate drinkers may die later on average not because they drink alcohol but because they tend to be healthier to begin with. Recent research has actually shown that moderate drinking was associated with a higher risk of high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. In addition, alcohol is a known human carcinogen and accounts for 6% of all cancers and 4% of cancer deaths amounting to 75,000 yearly cancer cases and 19,000 deaths in the US. While there are some antioxidants in some wines, health professionals agree the risks outweigh any potential health benefits. Moreover, we can get the same antioxidants from various plant food sources, including fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices, tea and dark chocolate (JAMA Network Open, 2022; World Health Organization, 2023).

Angela Kang, PhD, is a licensed psychologist in New York and New Jersey with a private practice in Pelham and a Board Member of Project Community - one of Pelham's leading charitable organizations - is celebrating its 40th Anniversary in being Pelham's only volunteer organization to have healthcare professionals providing visionary programs and solutions for teens, families and a healthy community. Known for its ever-popular COLOR RUN (May 18, 2025), its programs and workshops tackle Binge Drinking, Sexual Assault, Anxiety, Self Awareness, and Project CHILDD and YOU&ME for children, teens and young adults with special needs. Please visit projectcommunity.us