Binge Drinking an overview

How quickly a person’s body absorbs alcohol may depend on their sex, age, and body size. But it typically takes four or more standard drinks for women and five or more standard drinks for men to reach a BAC of 0.08% during a 2-hour binge drinking period. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking alcohol, typically within a 2-hour period, which brings a person’s BAC to 0.08% or higher. A person’s BAC is the percentage of alcohol in their blood, and in the United States, a BAC of 0.08% means the person is legally intoxicated. Binge drinking refers to heavy alcohol use over a short period of time. The general definition of binge drinking is having 5 or more drinks in a row by males or 4 or more drinks in a row by females at least once in the previous 2 weeks.

• Recent research has raised worries about the long-term effects of binge drinking on the developing brain; specifically, adolescent brains may be more susceptible to damage from binge drinking than those of adults.
• Reassure yourself that speaking up is a compassionate gesture.
• Federal and state health agencies also offer resources and can refer you to someone who can help.
• You may think that because you’re not physically dependent on alcohol and don’t have to drink every day that your drinking isn’t harmful.
• The chances are especially high for people who drink heavily during their teen years.

You might binge drink in order to feel confident talking, flirting, or making jokes with strangers. Alcohol can damage body tissues and interfere with your body’s ability to absorb nutrients and break down harmful chemicals. These effects can increase your risk of various types of cancer, including mouth, throat, esophagus, breast, liver, and colon cancer. You might also worry about whether alcohol is causing permanent damage to your brain or heart health. If your excessive alcohol use is a reoccurring issue, you might admonish yourself for your poor self-control or even develop a sense of self-loathing.

Binge Drinking: Effects, Causes, and Help

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as an episode of alcohol use that raises your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 percent (0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter) or higher. Alcohol use disorder (AUD), formerly known as alcoholism and alcohol addiction, describes a long-term pattern of alcohol use that becomes difficult to control. You might, for instance, feel an urge to drink even when you no longer want to, and have cravings when you try to avoid alcohol.

Some people who drink too much display signs of alcohol addiction. Alcohol addiction involves strong cravings for alcohol, the inability to limit drinking, and continued alcohol use despite harmful physical or psychological effects. Addicts also may experience withdrawal symptoms when they abstain from drinking and may notice that they start to need more and binge drinking more alcohol to get the same effects. Alcohol abusers may also put themselves and others in harm’s way through drinking and driving or may be more prone to accidents such as falls or burns. Binge drinking is a term used to describe a pattern of excessive alcohol consumption that results in a high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in a short amount of time.

What is Considered Binge Drinking?

We use a combination of medication and therapy to help patients reach sobriety. You also could confide in a trusted friend or older sibling who is easy to talk to. Drinking too much can be the result of social pressures, and sometimes it helps to know there are others who have gone through the same thing. If you think you or a friend have a binge-drinking problem, get help as soon as possible. The best approach is to talk to an adult you trust — if you can’t approach your parents, talk to your doctor, school counselor, clergy member, aunt, or uncle. People who binge-drink may find that their friends drift away.

However, alcohol is a depressant, so it will ultimately make you feel even worse. Alcohol poisoning is the most life-threatening consequence of binge drinking. When someone drinks too much and gets alcohol poisoning, it affects the body’s involuntary reflexes — including breathing and the gag reflex. If the gag reflex https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-long-does-fentanyl-stay-in-your-system/ isn’t working properly, a person can choke to death on their vomit. You may know from experience that excessive drinking can lead to trouble concentrating, memory lapses, mood changes, and other problems that affect your day-to-day life. But binge drinking carries more serious and longer-lasting risks as well.

What’s Considered Binge Drinking?

Your age and the sex you were assigned at birth determine your threshold. Binge drinking generally occurs when a woman consumes 4 or more drinks in about 2 hours or when a man consumes 5 or more drinks in the same amount of time. It is the most common and deadly pattern of excessive alcohol use in the country and can be a predecessor for alcohol use disorder.

Silvermist offers inpatient alcohol abuse and addiction treatment in Pennsylvania. In a serene and supportive environment, young adults receive a holistic and personalized approach to treatment and recovery. Learn more about our addiction treatment center—including our young adult rehab and various treatment modalities —by getting in touch with Silvermist today.

Dr. Witkiewitz said that two months ago she was supervising a patient she thought would benefit from naltrexone. But she said that the patient’s primary care doctor mistakenly believed that prescribing the medication required additional training in addiction medicine and refused to write a prescription. “It takes a level of awareness that many people don’t have,” he said. “If we attack the medical problem right away and early on, you cannot only treat the problem but prevent the development of the more severe forms of the disease,” Dr. Leggio said.