Drugs of abuse modulate immune and nutritional status in AIDS

In the Unites States, alcohol (EtOH) contributes to approximately 100,000 deaths annually, making it the third leading cause of preventable death, after tobacco and diet/activity patterns. ¹ According to the most recently available (1998) statistics ² 5.9% of the U.S. population (12.4 million Americans) are heavy drinkers, with heavy drinking defined as five or more drinks on the same occasion on at least 5 different days in the past month. Almost three times as many men as women are problem drinkers, and prevalence is highest for both sexes in the 18- to 29-year-old age group. ³ Fetal EtOH syndrome, which can occur from drinking during pregnancy, is the leading known environmental cause of mental retardation in the Western World. ⁴.