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Think about it!
Are your drinking habits
harming your liver?

Do you drink on a daily basis?

Do you turn to alcohol when
stressed?

After a night of drinking, how
often do you not remember
what happened?
Healthy drinking habits…

Set a limit

Plan ahead

Eat a meal & drink water

Avoid binge drinking

Practice moderation
Call ADCAS at 360-650-6865
Talk to your doctor
Citations
1. College drinking, (2015). National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism. Retrieved from http://
pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/CollegeFactSheet/
CollegeFactSheet.pdf
2. Griffith, C., & Schenker, S., (2006). The Role of nutritional
therapy in alcoholic liver disease. The Journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 29(4) 296306. Retrieved from: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/
arh294/296-306.pdf
3. Lee, D. (n.d.). Cirrhosis (liver). Retrieved January 23,
2016, from http://www.medicinenet.com
4. The Liver (Human Anatomy): Liver picture, definition,
function, conditions, tests, and treatments. (2014). WebMD.
Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/
picture-of-the-liver
5. Maher, J., (1997). Exploring alcohol’s effects on liver
function, 21(1) 5-12. Retrieved from http://
pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh21-1/05.pdf
6. Marsano, L., Mendez, C., Hill, D., Barve, S., & McClain, C.,
(2003). Diagnosis and Treatment of Alcoholic Liver Disease
and Its Complications, 27(3) 247-256. Retrieved
from:http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh27-3/247256.pdf
Images
Drinking Liver: https://
fattylivertreatmentbynaturalmeasures.wordpress.com/2014/07/page/3/
Drinking man: http://blog.ted.com/new_excessive_a/
Drinking student: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/
illustration/man-drinking-water-royalty-freeillustration/472309355
Stages of liver damage: http://mysickliver.weebly.com/
mdash-stages.html
Stop sign: http://www.clipartpanda.com/categories/stopsign-clip-art-microsoft
What’s
drinking
doing to
your
liver?
ALCOHOL USE
AND
COLLEGE STUDENTS
Binge drinking is prevalent on many
college campuses. Prolonged binge
drinking can lead to liver damage, a
condition partying college students may
face if they keep up these dangerous
habits.
What is binge drinking?
4+ drinks for women
5+ drinks for men
*over a 2 hour period


1
Of college students who drink, 2 out
of 3 binge drink 1
Roughly 20% of college students
meet the criteria for an alcohol use
disorder 1
Unsure of how much you drink?
Find out here with the The 7 Day Unit
Calculator:
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/
sevendaycalculator
Why does alcohol
damage the liver?
What is the liver
The liver is a vital organ. The liver filters
blood coming from the digestive system
before entering the rest of the body 4.
Why do you need it?
It is responsible for making essential
chemicals and breaking down substances
like drugs and alcohol 4.
What is cirrhosis of the liver?
Cirrhosis is a complication of liver disease
that involves loss of liver cells and scarring
of the liver. Essentially, the relationship
between blood and liver cells is ruined. Liver
damage typically progresses from fatty liver
to alcoholic hepatitis (liver fibrosis) to
cirrhosis. It can be reversible at the first
two stages, but permanent damage occurs
with cirrhosis 5,6. If untreated, cirrhosis can
lead to liver cancer.
Since the liver breaks down
substances, when alcohol is broken
down in the liver it turns into toxic
by-products that can harm the
liver 5. With excessive use, this
harm begins to permanently impair
the function of the liver.
Additionally, people who drink
heavily are often malnourished
since most of their energy intake is
from alcohol. Therefore, they are
not getting enough nutrients to
repair the damage and the liver
has impaired ability to absorb
nutrients 2.
How do you recognize it?
Possible Symptoms:



Weakness
Loss of appetite
Easy bruising



Itching
Fatigue
Jaundice
3
*Note that some people are asymptomatic
6