Many of us enjoy having an adult beverage from time to time. It’s refreshment. But for some people, drinking alcohol, and getting drunk, becomes the sole purpose of a night out. It’s called binge drinking. And the dangers of binge drinking can take you down the wrong road.
The problem of binge drinking is especially acute on college campuses. But it’s an issue across American society, from the teenage years to the middle-aged and beyond.
The dangers of binge drinking leave their imprint on society in terms of increased costs from healthcare, law enforcement, lost productivity, and more. Getting help now, before binge drinking elevates into alcoholism, can lower those costs.
Facts about Binge Drinking
The Centers for Disease Control describes binge drinking as the “most common, costly, and deadly pattern of excessive drinking in the United States.” It is defined medically as drinking that leads to a blood-alcohol content of at least 0.08 percent.
Depending on certain variables, men reach the binge level after about five drinks and women after four. More men than women struggle with binge drinking. The largest population of binge-drinkers are in the 18-to-34-year-old category, but the problem touches all age groups.
Binge drinking is not an occasional problem. According to the CDC, about a sixth of the adult population binge drinks four times each month.
Evidence suggests that income is an indicator of binge drinking risks — the problem is more common in households with incomes of $75,000 and above.
Binge Drinking vs. Addiction
It may seem counter-intuitive, but just because someone is a binge drinker doesn’t necessarily mean they suffer from the disease of alcoholism. The CDC estimates that only around 10 percent of binge drinkers can be expected to meet the clinical definition of an alcohol use disorder. Signs of such a disorder include:
- Increased tolerance — having to consume more to get the same effect
- Unable to think of anything else except drinking
- Continuing to drink in the face of life problems.
- Failing to stay within limits
- Experiencing blackouts or withdrawal symptoms
Probably the most important thing to look at is what drinking does to your life. If you are frequently in some level of trouble — legal, personal, professional, or otherwise — you may want to ask if you’re experiencing more than the dangers of binge drinking.
Dangers of Binge Drinking
So if binge drinking doesn’t indicate a disease, it must be okay, then, right? Wrong. The dangers of binge drinking create substantial, long-lasting, and serious problems for the individual and society alike.
An estimated 2,000 college students die each year from injuries suffered in alcohol-related incidents, according to the University of Rochester, while almost 100,000 report alcohol-related sexual assaults.
Even off of campuses, the costs of binge drinking are high. The dangers of binge drinking include:
- Alcohol poisoning
- Liver disease
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Violence/suicide
- Encounters with police, such as drunk driving
- Sexually transmitted disease
Researchers estimate the yearly cost of binge drinking at about $200 billion.
Putting Health First
Drinking to excess, just to get drunk, has a dangerous allure for some people. But after a while, the dangers of binge drinking build-up to put your health and safety at tremendous risk. Let the professionals at Right Step Houston help you break the habit. Our team of addiction and clinical specialists provide alcohol and drug counseling that can change your life and point you toward stronger and healthier habits. Our programs include alcohol addiction treatment and addiction therapy programs, along with various aftercare programs. Also, we offer therapeutic services such as:
- Individual counseling
- Group Therapy
- Family Therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
So call us today for a confidential consultation at 1.844.768.0169.