The Dangers of Binge Drinking

Details: Category: Region 9; Published: 29 July 2022

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, binge drinking is a serious but curable public health issue (CDC). The most prevalent, expensive, and lethal form of excessive alcohol consumption in the US is binge drinking. For men, binge drinking is when they have five or more drinks in one sitting, while for women it's four or more. The majority of binge drinkers do not have severe alcohol use disorders1, but binge drinking is still a risky behavior that has been linked to serious accidents and numerous diseases. Additionally, it raises the risk of developing an alcohol use disorder.

A person who consumes enough alcoholic beverages in a 2-hour period to raise their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 percent or higher is referred to as binge drinking, according to Alicia Sparks Akers of Medical News Today. How common is binge drinking? One in six US adults, or 25%, engage in binge drinking, according to the CDC. Though only one pattern of excessive drinking, binge drinking makes up the majority of it. Adults in the US who drink excessively report bingeing on over 90% of occasions. CDC also stated that men binge drink nearly twice as frequently as women, and it is most prevalent among younger adults (18–34). Adults with higher household incomes ($75,000 or more), who are non-Hispanic White, or who reside in the Midwest are most likely to binge drink. Although binge drinking is less common in some groups and states, those who engage in it frequently or heavily do so.

According to Matt Smith of WebMD, researchers attribute more than half of the annual 88,000 deaths attributed to alcohol—including those caused by car accidents, alcohol poisoning, suicide, and violence—to this type of heavy drinking. A weakened immune system, liver diseases like cirrhosis and hepatitis, cardiovascular issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, digestive issues, some cancers like mouth, throat, esophagus, breast, liver, and colon, mental health issues like depression and anxiety, and social issues like homelessness are just a few of the serious long-term issues that regular binge drinking can increase the risk of over time.

Alicia Sparks Akers suggested that people who want to get help for binge drinking may consider doing the following:

1. Request assistance from a therapist and discuss their drinking habits with their doctor.

2. Request assistance from friends and family when confronted with circumstances that could result in binge drinking.

3. Locating alternatives to binge drinking.

4. Limiting the amount, location, and timing of their alcohol consumption during a particular period or event

5. Take into account giving up alcohol completely. Joining programs or support groups may be necessary for this.

With support from friends and family, individuals can attempt to reduce or stop drinking altogether. They can also look for alternatives to drinking and seek professional assistance.

DMO II Marie-Claire A. Gaas

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