Researchers continue to find evidence that alcohol can have significant negative effects on the body. One concern is the link between alcohol consumption and colorectal cancer. Studies suggest that people who consume more than 14 drinks per week face a higher risk of developing the disease. Research published in the journal of the American Cancer Society indicates that alcohol may damage DNA in cells and disrupt the gut microbiome—changes that could help explain why colorectal cancer risk increases with heavier drinking.
At the same time, scientists are examining potential treatments for alcohol addiction. Some people have experimented with the anesthetic drug Ketamine for its hallucinogenic effects, and in recent years it has also drawn attention as a possible therapy for alcohol-use problems. However, a new study published in the journal Addiction found that ketamine does not provide the therapeutic benefits for alcohol addiction that earlier research had suggested.
Despite these concerns, researchers say there is encouraging news for people with alcohol-related liver disease. A study from the Medical University of Vienna reports that consistent and permanent abstinence from alcohol can reverse liver damage in patients with liver complications—even in some of the most advanced cases of liver cirrhosis.