What Is Binge Drinking?

What Is Binge Drinking?






Chet
has known Dave since they were in elementary school together, but
lately their friendship has been strained. Dave's drinking on weekends
has turned him into a completely different person. Dave used to get good
grades and play sports, but since he started drinking he hasn't been
finishing assignments and he has quit the soccer team.




When Chet saw Dave pound five beers in 30 minutes at two different parties, he realized how serious Dave's problem was.



What Is Binge Drinking?






Binge drinking used to mean drinking heavily over several days. Now,
however, the term refers to the heavy consumption of alcohol over a
short period of time (just as binge eating means a specific period of
uncontrolled overeating).




Today the generally accepted definition of binge drinking in the
United States is the consumption of five or more drinks in a row by men —
or four or more drinks in a row by women — at least once in the
previous 2 weeks. Heavy binge drinking includes three or more such
episodes in 2 weeks.



Why Do People Binge Drink?






Liquor stores, bars, and alcoholic beverage companies make drinking
seem attractive and fun. It's easy for a high school student to get
caught up in a social scene with lots of peer pressure. Inevitably, one
of the biggest areas of peer pressure is drinking.




Other reasons why people drink include:
What Are the Risks of Binge Drinking?






Many people don't think about the negative side of drinking. Although
they think about the possibility of getting drunk, they may not give
much consideration to being hung-over or throwing up.




You may know from experience that excessive drinking can lead to
difficulty 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.








Alcohol Poisoning






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 isn't working properly, a person can choke
to death on his or her vomit.




Other signs someone may have alcohol poisoning include:

If you think someone has alcohol poisoning, call 911 immediately.



Impaired Judgment






Binge drinking impairs judgment, so drinkers are more likely to take
risks they might not take when they're sober. They may drive drunk and
injure themselves or others. Driving isn't the only motor skill that's
impaired, though. Walking is also more difficult while intoxicated. In
2000, roughly one third of pedestrians 16 and older who were killed in
traffic accidents were intoxicated.









People who are drunk also take other risks they might not normally
take when they're sober. For example, people who have impaired judgment
may have unprotected sex, putting them at greater risk of a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or unplanned pregnancy.



Physical Health






Studies show that people who binge-drink throughout high school are
more likely to be overweight and have high blood pressure by the time
they are 24. Just one regular beer contains about 150 calories, which
adds up to a lot of calories if someone drinks four or five beers a
night.








Mental Health






Binge drinkers have a harder time in school and they're more likely
to drop out. Drinking disrupts sleep patterns, which can make it harder
to stay awake and concentrate during the day. This can lead to struggles
with studying and poor academic performance.




People who binge-drink may find that their friends drift away — which
is what happened with Chet and Dave. Drinking can affect personality;
people might become angry or moody while drinking, for example.



Alcoholism






Some studies have shown that people who binge-drink heavily — those
who have three or more episodes of binge drinking in 2 weeks — have some
of the symptoms of alcoholism.
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Getting Help




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.





It can be hard for some people to talk to adults about these issues,
so an alternative could be 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're worried, don't hesitate to ask someone for help. A
supportive friend or adult could help you to avoid pressure situations,
stop drinking, or find counseling.


Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: April 2009


Listen
Getting Help



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.



It can be hard for some people to talk to adults about these issues,
so an alternative could be 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're worried, don't hesitate to ask someone for help. A
supportive friend or adult could help you to avoid pressure situations,
stop drinking, or find counseling.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: April 2009
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