The Consequences of Underage Drinking
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The number of women who binge drink has steadily increased over the past decade, Dr. Koob says. Teenagers and even adults may also binge drink to fit in with peers who are engaging in the same behavior. The term “binge” was originally adopted to describe a pattern of problematic drinking characterized by heavy use followed by a period of abstinence.
The prevalence of binge drinking among adults 65 and older is still relatively low compared with other age groups, Dr. Han said. Over 38 percent of college-aged adults, 18 to 25, had recently drunk excessively, the highest prevalence of any age group. Adults ages 26 to 34 had only slightly fewer binge drinkers, and the second highest https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/alcohol-vs-drugs-comparison-of-addictions/ percentage, the study found. However, even if you’re drinking less than this in one session, if your binge drinking is having unwanted consequences in your life, it may be time to reassess your drinking habits. Many college campuses provide alcohol awareness and treatment programs to help students with unhealthy drinking habits.
Why do I binge drink?
Alcohol can have a profound effect on this part of the body as well. In fact, some studies show that having as little as one to three alcoholic drinks each day may increase the risk of developing an abnormal heartbeat. Having an irregular heartbeat may trigger fatigue, dizziness, or shortness of breath.
Researchers blame this kind of heavy drinking for more than half of the roughly 88,000 alcohol-related deaths — from car crashes, alcohol poisoning, suicide, and violence — that happen every year. But remember, it can suppress consequences of drinking your immune system and make you more prone to infections. So if you engage in risky behavior like unprotected sex with multiple partners or intravenous drug use, heavy boozing can put you at higher risk for contracting HIV.
Sudden death
You also may be more likely to succumb to viruses and have a harder time beating any acute illness or injury when you binge drink frequently. You are often late to work — or late on projects, late for meetings or miss appointments. Binge drinking can dull the mind long after the alcohol wears off, especially if you frequently find yourself at the bar at the end of your shift and/or on the weekends. Many binge drinkers have a hard time staying alert, managing their tasks while at work and being on time to work, especially after the weekend. While this is primarily caused by alcohol poisoning, death can also occur due to injuries, accidents or even homicide. Some studies have shown that people who binge-drink heavily — those who have 3 or more episodes of binge drinking in 2 weeks — have some of the symptoms of alcoholism.
Which drink is highly alcoholic?
With 95% alcohol by volume, Everclear, a grain alcohol made in the U.S., is shockingly strong, but it's not the strongest liquor in the world. Across the globe, distillers amp up the alcohol content of rums, vodkas, absinthes, whiskeys, and more to create eye-watering, high-proof bottles.
Furthermore, alcohol impairs the body’s ability to remove mucus from the lungs, leading to a higher risk of pneumonia and other health complications. Binge drinking also affects the ability to form new long-term memories, and increases the risk of developing dementia. Binge drinking may also be triggered by withdrawal symptoms in someone with an alcohol use disorder. When such a person hasn’t had a drink in a long time, craving intensifies. And the intense pleasure that is experienced with the next drink can escalate into a binge.
Brain development in young adults
Please donate today to help us save, support, and change lives. For example, they might decide to stick to one drink per occasion or no more than three drinks per week. When you’re drinking together, remind them of the limit they set for themselves. Therefore, drinking more water won’t necessarily protect you from a hangover the next day. The only sure way to reduce or avoid a hangover is to drink less alcohol.
If no one’s pressuring you, but you still feel a desire to fit in, have a non-alcoholic beverage. Simply having a drink to sip on might make you feel more at ease. This strategy can also come in handy if you’re with a group of friends who want to play drinking games. In addition to taking breaks for water, make a habit of slowly sipping your alcohol. Rather than chug your beer or mixed drink, take time to hold it in your mouth and appreciate its taste. If you have a hard time moderating your pace, try to stick with drinks that have low alcohol content.
This type of drinking behavior can bring the blood alcohol level dangerously high, 0.08 (the legal limit in most of the United States) or above. At this level, an individual’s judgement becomes clouded which contributes to bad decision making and high risk behavior such as drinking and driving. Binge drinking is not the same as alcoholism or alcohol dependency; however, it does create problems and has many risks involved.
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- This increases the risk of choking on vomit if the drinker passes out from too much drinking.
- An earlier version of this article misstated the prevalence of binge drinking among college-aged adults, according to a study.
- Watching a friend or family member struggle with a binge-drinking habit can be difficult, even heart-wrenching.
Learning how to live a life without alcohol and drugs can be difficult, but it’s possible and it’s rewarding. Through taking steps like going to group support, 12-step meetings, and learning healthy coping mechanisms and skills, binge drinking will not be the solution to problems anymore. Binge drinking on a regular basis can be a characteristic of an alcohol use disorder. More frequent binge drinking, though, is more likely to lead to long-term damage. For an average-sized person, the liver can only break down about one standard drink per hour.
Staying Social When You Quit Drinking
Some of these damaging effects are short-term, and others are long-term. Simply explain why you’re concerned about their binge drinking. You might point out the effects that it’s having on their mood or physical health. Or you could let them know how it’s affecting your relationship. If you’re a binge drinker, you may not drink every day, but when you do start drinking, you likely have a hard time calling it quits after just one or two drinks.
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