Dangers of Binge Drinking

Have you drunk more than 8 drinks in a single occasion this month? If you answer is yes you are not alone. On average 38 million American adults binge 8 or more drinks at a rate of 4 times a month.

I've written about binge drinking and its dangers before. One of the biggest misconception about binge drinking is that it's a problem primarily for young people — minors, college students and young professionals. What may surprise you is that the group of people who are at most risk from dangers of binge drinking (defined as drinking 5 or more drinks in one occasion) are middle aged adults.

According to the latest report from the CDC, 6 people on average die from alcohol poisoning each day. Surprisingly, 75% of them are adults between 35 to 64 years old. And majority of them (75%) are men.

Clients I see will NOT die from alcohol poisoning. The problem as I see it is that frequent binge drinking or heavy drinking normalizes drinking until it becomes habitual. It becomes the norm. Without so much awareness habitual drinking becomes the way to deal with unwanted feelings and positive feelings. Prolonged alcohol abuse weakens all the systems in the body and contribute to unnecessary health conditions, lower our quality of life and contribute to early death.

It's difficult to believe but alcohol-related deaths outnumber all drug overdose deaths each year.

In our culture we celebrate, socialize and cope with stress with alcohol. Inherently this isn't a bad thing. As long as we have inhabited this planet, we have invented concoctions to help us escape reality.

What is "bad" is when alcohol use or overuse becomes the "go to" to deal with stress, anxiety, loneliness and boredom.

If you find yourself drinking habitually ask yourself these questions.

• Am I drinking too much? (Everyone has that inner voice of reason, which is often more ignorable under the influence)
• Do my friends or social circle drink too much and act up in ways that raise red flags (DUI's fights, arrests, questionable sexual behavior?
• Do I wake up middle of the night and find myself unable to fall back asleep?
• Am I hungover in the morning and have a hard time getting going?
• Am I missing school or work because of my drinking?
• Have others (friends, family, partner, husband or wife) nagged me about my drinking?

Binge Drinking

Dictionary definition of binge:
a : a drunken revel
b : an unrestrained and often excessive indulgence
c : an act of excessive or compulsive consumption (as of food)
Binge drinking is defined as drinking five or more drinks in one sitting or session. If you want to get technical it's five for males and four for women. Women, due to size and biology just can't handle as much alcohol. Excessive or heavy drinking cutoff is more than 15 drinks per week for men and 8 for women. Just to get really nerdy, a drink is equivalent to a 12 ounce bottle or can of beer (this means a pint is a drink and a half), a shot of liquor and 5 ounces of wine (five units in a bottle).

Why is binging on alcohol so bad for you?
• You will feel bad the next day. Hello hangover!

• Increased likelihood of injury from falls, trips, bumping into things
• Under the influence (drunk) you are more likely to be disinhibited: doing things you normally wouldn't, like having unprotected sex, deciding to drive home, spending money excessively, etc.

• Alcohol poisoning which can permanently damage your brain, liver and other organs
• Getting into fights with friends, strangers, or your significant other
• Getting arrested, going to jail, etc.

• It may become habitual, which means you are at risk of becoming alcohol dependent and early death

According to the CDC, one in six adults binge drink about 8 drinks 4 times a month!