Doctors Skip Out on Discussions regarding Alcohol Risks

For most of us, a drink or two doesn't mean much. However, for some, too much alcohol can lead to a serious problem.

Statistics show that 1 in 6 U.S. adults participate in binge drinking episodes at more than four times a month, consuming approximately eight drinks per binge. However, a recent study show that only 1 in 6 adults have ever discussed alcohol use with their doctor, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In fact, the report notes that only 1 in 4 binge drinkers said a health professional had ever talked with them regarding the dangers of excessive drinking, via information from a 2011 survey that involved 165,000 people in 44 states.

"Drinking too much alcohol has many more health risks than most people realize," CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden said, via Live Science. "We have found that a vast majority of people who see a doctor are not talking about alcohol. Brief intervention -- that is, alcohol screening and brief counseling -- can substantially reduce amount of alcohol consumed."

As of 2004, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended that all primary care doctors discuss alcohol use with adult patients.

We have this tool, this technique that works very well to the address the problem [of excess drinking], but it's not being used," Frieden said, via the news organization. 

As drinking too much can lead to serious health issues, including heart disease, certain types of cancer and liver disease, drinking alcohol while pregnant can also increase the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Driving under the influence can also increase the risk of a motor-vehicle crash and/or violence, which can lead to death for the driver and others involved. 

In fact, the CDC reports that 88,000 deaths are due to excessive drinking in the United States each year alone.

When a drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of spirits or liquor, it's important for those consuming alcohol not to go overboard. It might seem fun, but the consequences can be dangerous and even deadly for you and others.