Alcohol's Impact on Foresight and Substance Abuse Risk.

A new study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that even moderate alcohol consumption can impair one’s capacity to make decisions and be mindful of the future. The study concludes that alcohol intoxication at moderate levels can impair the ability of episodic foresight, which is essential for individuals making decisions that will benefit them in the future. Alcohol intake may result in decreased episodic foresight, possibly as the result of impaired retrospective memory. This may have implications for understanding different maladaptive behaviors commonly linked to acute alcohol usage.