- Drinking and smoking regularly increases your risk of cancer.
-Alcohol is classified as a Group 1 (very high risk) carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
-In January 2025, the US Surgeon General issued an advisory describing evidence on how alcohol increases cancer risk
-Tobacco smoke contains over 70 known carcinogens and is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide.
Breakdown Process:
Your body turns alcohol into a harmful chemical!
Step 1: Alcohol --> Acetaldehyde (toxic chemical)
- This can damage DNA and raise cancer risk.
Step 2: Acetaldehyde --> Acetate (safe)
-But acetaldehyde lingers long enough before breakdown to cause some harm.
There is NO 100% safe amount to drink. Even one drink a day raises your risk.
More drinks = more damage
- Cancer starts when cells grow out of control.
- Chemicals in smoke can damage your DNA, making cancer more likely
- Smoking weakens your lungs
- Nicotine narrows blood vessels and raises blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes
.
If you need help recovering from alcohol and smoking, follow these steps:
- Acknowledge the need for help
- Clear out triggers (Ex: alcohol or smoking related items in your home)
- Create a healthy routine: (Ex: Set times to eat, sleep, etc). Routine helps eliminate cravings.
- Try alternative coping strategies (Ex: Walking, deep breathing, journaling, music, etc)
- Surround yourself with community - reach out to friends, family, and those on the same journey
Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have questions about the information in this guide, or about alcohol and smoking consumption, concerns about your personal consumption, or questions about rehabilitation and recovery.
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/risk-factors/alcohol.html
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/alcohol/alcohol-fact-sheet
Acetaldehyde's Effects: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK219914/
Surgeon General's Alcohol Advisory: https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/alcohol-cancer/index.html
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