Citation

Verster JC, Stephens R, Penning R, Rohsenow D, McGeary J, Levy D, McKinney A, Finnigan F, Piasecki TM, Adan A, Batty GD, Fliervoet LA, Heffernan T, Howland J, Kim DJ, Kruisselbrink LD, Ling J, McGregor N, Murphy RJ, van Nuland M, Oudelaar M, Parkes A, Prat G, Reed N, Slutske WS, Smith G, Young M. Curr. Drug Abuse Rev. 2010; 3(2): 116-126.

Affiliation

Utrecht University, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Science, Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht, The Neterlands. jc.verster@uu.nl

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Bentham Science Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

20712593

PMCID

PMC3827719

Abstract

Alcohol-induced hangover, defined by a series of symptoms, is the most commonly reported consequence of excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol hangovers contribute to workplace absenteeism, impaired job performance, reduced productivity, poor academic achievement, and may compromise potentially dangerous daily activities such as driving a car or operating heavy machinery. These socioeconomic consequences and health risks of alcohol hangover are much higher when compared to various common diseases and other health risk factors. Nevertheless, unlike alcohol intoxication the hangover has received very little scientific attention and studies have often yielded inconclusive results. Systematic research is important to increase our knowledge on alcohol hangover and its consequences. This consensus paper of the Alcohol Hangover Research Group discusses methodological issues that should be taken into account when performing future alcohol hangover research. Future research should aim to (1) further determine the pathology of alcohol hangover, (2) examine the role of genetics, (3) determine the economic costs of alcohol hangover, (4) examine sex and age differences, (5) develop common research tools and methodologies to study hangover effects, (6) focus on factor that aggravate hangover severity (e.g., congeners), and (7) develop effective hangover remedies.

Language: en