Binge Drinking
There are a number of different
definitions for binge drinking ranging from an excessive number
of drinks in one sitting to having periods of uncontrollable drinking.
In any case binge drinking is an unhealthy pattern of drinking
that can be a sign of, or lead to, alcoholism. The National Institute
on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as “having
five or more drinks in one session” and in recent years
this type of drinking has become a concern among college-aged
youth. Research shows that these young adults are at risk for
engaging in dangerous behavior as a result of their drinking patterns
and also have the chance of developing alcohol related problems
such as addiction.
Many young adults engage in this
type of binge drinking on a regular basis both because it is easily
accessible and part of college culture. Young women who binge
drink have a higher chance of being put in dangerous social situations
(i.e. sexual assault) and many binge drinker begin to misjudge
their intoxication and believe they are able to drink and function
normally. This type of thinking leads to rape, drunk driving,
problems with the law and in some cases fatalities. College binge
drinking has severe consequences and can mean disaster in a young
person’s life.
Another type of binge drinking,
which is also referred to as periodic drinking, means that a person
has periods during which he/she “binges” on alcohol,
or takes in excessive amounts. In general, binge drinkers are
able to live normal everyday lives, but when a binge begins they
are unable to control or limit their drinking or predict their
behaviors. Binge drinkers often suffer from memory loss while
under the influence, commonly known as blackouts. During these
blackouts drinkers find they are unable to recall what they did
or how they felt, leaving them confused and remorseful come morning.
There is no set amount of alcohol or number of times that a binge
drinker will act out in any given period of time. Each person
is different, thus binge drinking affects them differently.
People who are close to binge
drinkers may find their patterns confusing and even enraging.
Binge drinkers are often unpredictable and suffer from mood swings
and personality shifts while under the influence. In many cases
binge drinkers are able to stay away from alcohol for extended
periods of time; however it is almost inevitable that they will
return to the bottle before long. Sometimes binge drinkers find
that they are making unrealistic promises to themselves and others
desperately trying to make sense out of their drinking. These
promises may be good for a time, but the binge drinker is most
likely to drink again no matter what the circumstances.
A binge drinking bout can start
out as just one or two beers; however the person might not draw
a sober breath for the next few days or even a week. Binge drinking
is not always a sign of alcoholism, however if the negative consequences
in concern to alcohol outweigh any good that comes from it, a
person may have a problem with alcohol. Binge drinking is a treatable
condition and can be stopped for good if the drinker is willing
to admit that he/she has a problem.
