This week on the podcast, I'm talking to Dr. George Koob, PhD, the Director of the NIAAA. The NIAAA, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, is the nation's leading agency for research and education on alcohol and health. For more than 50 years, the NIAAA has conducted and supported research that has improved our understanding of the effects of alcohol on health and well-being, as well as influenced legislation and attitudes toward alcohol in our society. Dr. Koob has been leading the NIAAA since 2014 and his expertise is recognized world-wide. In this episode we talk about the mission of the NIAAA, how people can use it's resources and how our ongoing education about alcohol, including research on alcohol and it's interactions with COVID-19. The NIAAA offers several resources to help educate drinkers from an evidence-based approach. Learn more about "Rethinking Drinking" here. Find resources on the "Treatment Navigator" here. Buy Breaking the Bottle Legacy: How to Change Your Drinking Habits and Create A Peaceful Relationship with Alcohol on Amazon or most online retailers. US Kindle US Paperback UK Kindle UK Paperback Apple Books Barnes & Noble Kobo Join my private FB group Alcohol Minimalists here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/changeyouralcoholhabit Has this podcast helped you? Please leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow me on Instagram: @AlcoholMinimalist You can grab two free chapters of my upcoming book here! Have you grabbed your free e-book, "Alcohol Truths: How Much is Safe?" Get it here. Low risk drinking guidelines from the NIAAA: Healthy men under 65: No more than 4 drinks in one day and no more than 14 drinks per week. Healthy women (all ages) and healthy men 65 and older: No more than 3 drinks in one day and no more than 7 drinks per week. One drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor. So remember that a mixed drink or full glass of wine are probably more than one drink. Abstinence from alcohol Abstinence from alcohol is the best choice for people who take medication(s) that interact with alcohol, have health conditions that could be exacerbated by alcohol (e.g. liver disease), are pregnant or may become pregnant or have had a problem with alcohol or another substance in the past. Benefits of “low-risk” drinking Following these guidelines reduces the risk of health problems such as cancer, liver disease, reduced immunity, ulcers, sleep problems, complications of existing conditions, and more. It also reduces the risk of depression, social problems, and difficulties at school or work. ★ Support this podcast ★

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.