U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a Surgeon General’s Advisory on Friday, warning of the connection between alcohol use and cancer risk.
“This advisory highlights alcohol use as a leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, contributing to nearly 100,000 cancer cases and about 20,000 cancer deaths each year,” the document stated. “The more alcohol consumed, the greater the risk of cancer.”
The advisory emphasized that even moderate consumption poses risks. “For certain cancers, like breast, mouth, and throat cancers, evidence shows that this risk may start to increase around one or fewer drinks per day,” it explained.
A Surgeon General’s Advisory is a public statement reserved for pressing health issues requiring immediate attention and action. Previous advisories have addressed topics such as youth mental health, misinformation, addiction, and tobacco use.
Dr. Murthy’s latest warning calls for national awareness and action to mitigate the risks associated with alcohol consumption.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
