Welcome to the first episode of The Shift, the podcast where we want to shift the national narrative about alcohol. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, 40,000 American women die due to breast cancer. Of those deaths, 2,500 are directly attributable to alcohol. This episode features a conversation between host Mike Marshall and scientist Priscilla Martinez. It's really fascinating … and somewhat scary. And it started off with her talking about the science and the link between alcohol and breast cancer.

About Our Guest

Priscilla Martinez, MPHIL, PHD is a scientist and Deputy Scientific Director at the Alcohol Research Group with over 15 years of experience in public health research and alcohol research, specifically. She is the lead Co-Director of the National Alcohol Survey, the longest-running alcohol survey in the US. At ARG, Martinez has led several NIH- and state-funded studies examining changes in alcohol use and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, the development and dissemination of health communication strategies related to alcohol and breast cancer risk, and alcohol's effects on inflammation. Her work has contributed to understanding US drinking patterns, participation in mutual-help groups, and public awareness of alcohol's health effects. She has also contributed to innovations in survey methodology, including the integration of biomarkers into population-based research and strategies for reaching populations less likely to participate in health surveys.

Key Discussions

✅ How alcohol causes breast cancer.

✅ Pink washing by the alcohol industry, particularly during the October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

✅ The Surgeon General's most recent warning about the need to increase understanding and education around the link between breast cancer and alcohol.

✅ What Drink Less for Your Breasts is doing to raise awareness for the alcohol-breast cancer link.

Episode Links

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📄 Transcript of this Episode

🌐 Drink Less for your Breasts

👤 Dr. Martinez's Full Bio

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