Alcohol Abuse – Alcohol use is so common that it is easy to forget that alcohol is a drug – a very dangerous drug. In the United States, alcohol is the most commonly used drug; it is also the most commonly abused. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, about one in four children younger than eighteen years old is exposed to alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence in the family.
When a person abuses a substance, it means that he or she uses it improperly. There are right ways and wrong ways to use alcohol. Binge drinking – or drinking more than four or five drinks during a single occasion – is one of the wrong ways.
Underage Drinking – Drinking illegally, before you turn the legal age to drink, is another wrong way to use alcohol. Presently, every state prohibits the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 21. Nevertheless, about 10.4 million teens between the ages of twelve and twenty use alcohol, even though it’s illegal for them to do so.
Maybe you drink alcohol, too. If you drink regularly, you will need more and more alcohol to feel drunk on a single occasion. This means you are at risk of becoming an alcoholic – a person who is addicted to the drug alcohol.
And because it’s illegal, underage drinking is usually done in secret. This can lead to isolation; drug dependency; trouble at home, school, and work; or life-altering conditions resulting from accidents or alcohol poisoning. According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, alcohol is involved as a factor in the three leading causes of teenage death: accidents, homicide, and suicide.
Think about that. The top three things that cause teens to die are related to alcohol in some way. So it’s not as simple as just getting drunk – illegally or otherwise. And it’s clearly not that easy to control. Each year, alcohol abuse contributes heavily to traffic fatalities and to domestic violence. Of course, it also causes alcoholism, a disease that affects millions of Americans. Alcohol abuse is often a factor in criminal behavior and in unplanned or unwanted sexual activity. Some of this sexual activity accounts for the dramatic spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among teens.
Binge Drinking Defined - Many binge drinkers don’t think of what they do as binge drinking. A binge is a spree or doing a lot of something at once. Binge drinking is abuse, and it has damaging effects on the body and mind. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, there are regular binge drinkers, or bingers, as young as thirteen years old in America. It isn’t uncommon for adult bingers to have started this young. Binge drinking is very common among people in the age group between eighteen and twenty-five years of age as well.
If you’re a male and drink five or more alcoholic drinks in a row, or a female who drinks four or more in a row, you are engaging in binge drinking. This is especially true if you drinking specifically in order to get drunk.
Binge Drinking Is Irresponsible Drinking – Just because some adults have a few drinks, it doesn’t make them binge drinkers. There are adults who can have a few drinks, enjoy those drinks, and still behave responsibly. They don’t lose friends because of the things that they say or do when they have been drinking. They have never been convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI). These adults have not lost their driver’s licenses because of an alcohol-related incident, nor have they been arrested. By being over the legal drinking age, and by drinking only in moderation, these adults drink responsibly, and thus alcohol does not really affect their lives (or the lives of others) in detrimental ways.
Binge drinkers are not responsible drinkers. They let the drinking get out of control. Too many times, binge drinking ends up with horrible results. The story of Samantha Spady is an example of just how bad things can get with binge drinking. CBS News offered a report on Samantha, a nineteen-year-old freshman at Colorado State University. One night, she consumed more than thirty drinks while at a fraternity party. The following morning, she was found dead on the floor, where her friends had left her “to sleep”. An alcohol awareness organization called Join Together estimates that 1,400 college students die each year of alcohol-related causes.
It is quite common for teens to find themselves doing things that they wouldn’t normally do when they are surrounded by a group of friends, especially if everyone else looks at it as no big deal. You could be led to drink far more than you intend to, especially if you are new to drinking alcohol and don’t realize how alcohol will affect you.
The Risks of Binge Drinking – Binge drinking produces negative effects in a regular lifestyle. Teens who binge drink are placing themselves at risk for a number of problems; frequent binge drinkers are the ones who have the most serious problems. Two separate studies in 2009 found that teens with a history of binge drinking showed serious damage to the white matter in their brain, which could result in a 10 percent decline in memory and irreversible long-term memory and thinking impairment.
According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, frequent binge drinkers were eight times more likely than non-bingers to miss a class, fall behind in schoolwork, get hurt, and damage property. Bingers are more likely to report lower grades than non-bingers do. They were also sixteen times more likely to have ridden in a car with a driver who was drunk or under the influence of drugs. Teens who are binge drinkers are also more likely to be heavy smokers.
Consuming a very large amount of alcohol causes you to lose consciousness. When you lose consciousness, it isn’t like sleeping. You cannot be awakened easily, either through shaking or loud voices. You are not aware of your surroundings. In this vulnerable situation, it’s easy to be taken advantage of, or subjected to things you would never allow if you were conscious or awake.
Girls and women are more likely to be the victims of sexual assault when they are drunk. Frequent binge drinkers were found to have engaged in unplanned sexual activity more often than non-bingers. This shows how dramatically a lot of alcohol can impair your good judgment. Young women must be especially careful. Girls and women are more likely to be the victims of sexual assault when they are drunk, meaning alcohol consumption increases the risk of date rape, unplanned pregnancy, and exposure to HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Alcohol Affects Everyone – People may not realize that binge drinking can affect teens and adults who don’t drink at all. According to the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), people involved with the binger are likely to feel the effects, too. In situations where binge drinking is occurring regularly, 34% of non-bingers report being insulted or humiliated by bingers. About 13% of non-bingers said that they were hit or assaulted by bingers. Some of these people also have to halt their own activities to take care of the binger. According to HHS, females in this environment report receiving unwanted sexual advances from bingers who are out of control.
This means that while others are acting responsibly, binge drinkers are acting out. Often their risky behavior, such as starting fights, is aimed at innocent bystanders. Bingers often take things too far and anger the people around them. This can put the binge drinker, unable to control or defend himself or herself, in dangerous situations. If you or someone you know is suffering because of a binge drinker, seek help from a parent, guardian, counselor, or teacher. You’ll help the second-hand sufferer, and you could end up saving the life of the binger.
Social Side-Effects – Ironically, many people drink to feel more comfortable in social situations, but in the long run, drinkers often become antisocial. In the beginning, the typical binge drinker will feel relaxed, confident, and outgoing after having a few drinks. He or she may also find a group of friends who are interested in binge drinking. For a time, it might seem as if binge drinking is a big social scene and a sure method to gaining popularity.
People enjoy the lack of inhibition that comes with drinking alcohol. They think it contributes to making friends, yet it can actually ruin friendships. Binge drinkers regularly say or do things while drinking that they regret the next day. This could be anything from having a fight with a good friend to scaring off a potential girlfriend or boyfriend.
College students who binge drink are more likely to be in trouble with the campus police or be arrested for a whole range of reasons, including public drunkenness, fights, vandalism, and disturbing the peace. These experiences could lead to expulsion from school if they happen too often. So in the very short time that it takes to go from drinking to feel more comfortable, to drinking to get drunk, the binge drinker has changed his or her social setting dramatically. Because of their drunken actions, binge drinkers have lost friends, alienated family members, or failed to live up to responsibilities like school and work. Fortunately, through counseling, bingers can return to a full life. But recovery can start only when the binger, or someone who loves him or her, seeks help.
When to Call 911 – As in the case of Samantha Spady – a nineteen-year-old who died after drinking more than thirty drinks in one night – another potential result of bingeing is death. Samantha died from alcohol poisoning. The volume of alcohol was too great, causing it to become poisonous to her body. Her brain no longer received oxygen, and without oxygen, her brain shut down. This caused her lungs and heart to stop working properly, leading to her death.
If one of your friends or family members has consumed a large amount of alcohol and exhibits any of the following symptoms, call 911 immediately:
<>Vomiting
<>Unconsciousness
<>No pain response (does not respond to a shoulder pinch)
<>Clammy, pale, or bluish skin that is cool to the touch
<>Irregular breathing: less than eight breaths per minute or more than ten seconds of stillness between inhaling and exhaling
Don’t worry about getting the person (or yourself) in trouble. Getting immediate medical attention could mean the difference between life and death. It’s a safe bet your friend or family member would rather be punished than dead. Stay with him or her while waiting for help, and make sure the person is lying on his or her side to prevent choking in case of unconscious vomiting. If you can drive and are near a hospital, you may want to bring your friend to the emergency room. If possible, get another person to travel with you. Lay the drunk person on his or her side, and drive swiftly but safely. And tell the medical professionals the truth – give them accurate information for why you have brought the person there.
Myths and Facts About Binge Drinking
Myth: The age 21 doesn’t mean anything when it comes to drinking. It’s just a number that the government made up.
Fact: In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the drinking age was lowered to 18 in some states, and the number of teens who died in car accidents in these states increased greatly. During the 1980s, when the age limit was raised back to 21, teen fatalities from car accidents in these states went way down. This was enough proof for most citizens that the legal drinking age should remain 21, and that young lives were being saved by doing so.
Myth: A person who can hold his or her liquor (in other words, one who can drink a lot and not seem drunk) is tough.
Fact: If a person you know drinks a lot of alcohol in one setting without vomiting or turning into a drunken fool, it isn’t a sign that he or she is tough – or cool. It’s an early sign of chemical dependency. This means that the drinker drinks a lot and drinks often. His or her body has a strong tolerance to alcohol because of repeated exposure. He or she is a serious candidate for extreme health problems, which is neither cool nor admirable.
Myth: If a binge drinker gets drunk, you can help by making him or her walk a lot or by putting him or her under a cold shower.
Fact: Binge drinkers and alcohol abusers may seem to awaken under a cold stream of water, but that will do nothing for their digestive system, which is still processing a large amount of alcohol. Even bingers who vomit the alcohol will still need medical attention because of the large amount of alcohol that is already in the systems of the body. Forcing the binger to drink black coffee or having the binger sleep it off isn’t good either. Immediately seek medical attention if you come across a binger on a binge. You just may save his or her life.
If You Know a Binge Drinker – If you know someone underage who is already a binge drinker, you can help. Think of it as an opportunity to save a life. People don’t like to admit to problems with alcohol. This is in part because alcohol is such a significant part of our culture that people don’t want to show that they can’t handle it. Your friend may feel that you or other friends will turn away if he or she admits the problem and tries to get help.
What you need to remember, however, is that your friend’s other option – continuing to binge – produces even greater hardship. This hardship may cause friends and loved ones to distance themselves, causing an alcohol abuser to replace old friends with “good time” party friends. These are typically easily won friends who aren’t there in any real time of need. When the binger realizes this, he or she feels isolated and alone and unable to go back to his or her loved ones. If this is the situation, reassure your friend that it is never too late. Through guidance and counseling, old relationships with friends and family can be renewed, and a good life can begin again.
Recovery: First Steps Are The Hardest – The first step a person needs to take in order to get help is to admit that he or she has a problem. This is often the hardest step of all. What you can do is encourage your friend to talk about his or her drinking. It may help to get another friend to do this with you. You don’t have to have a formal intervention, but that is also an option. An intervention is when a group of friends and relatives get together and confront someone about his or her drinking. During an intervention, each participant explains to the addicted person how the drinking affects the drinker’s life and the lives of everyone who cares for him or her.
If your friend does not want to seek help, you may have to seek help for him or her from a parent, guardian, teacher, or counselor. Remember that binge drinking causes people to take risks that can be fatal. The best way to be a friend is to tell someone who can help your friend.
The next step that your friend faces, after admitting that he or she has a problem, is for him or her to talk to a counselor. There are many counselors who are skilled in helping people who abuse substances. A counselor can help your friend get back on track and learn why he or she is dependent on binge drinking. Often, school guidance counselors can recommend substance abuse counselors who have experience dealing with teens. You can also check online resources for organizations that can provide counseling or help you locate a good counselor.
Ten Great Questions to Ask About Binge Drinking – The signs and symptoms of binge drinking are usually pretty clear. If you fear you might be a binge drinker, ask yourself the following questions. Answering yes to some or all of these questions is a sure sign that you have a drinking problem, and possibly a binge-drinking problem. Don’t ignore the facts. Seek help from an alcohol abuse counselor or medical professional.
1. Do you suffer frequent hangovers (headaches the morning after) from drinking a lot at parties?
2. Do you drink until you get sick or pass out?
3. Do you do or say things while drinking that you wouldn’t normally do or say sober?
4. Do you feel that you must drink to have fun?
5. Do you notice that a lot of your stories begin with “We were so drunk that night…” or “I was so wasted…”?
6. Do you avoid friends who don’t drink?
7. Have you ever ended a night being hospitalized, either with alcohol poisoning or due to an alcohol-related accident?
8. Have you ever been arrested as a result of alcohol-related behavior?
9. Do you frequently feel guilty after drinking?
10. Have you experienced memory loss as a result of drinking?
Adapted from "Alcohol Abuse and Binge Drinking” by Holly Cefrey, Teen Health and Wellness, Rosen, 2010, http://teenhealthandwellness.com/article/36/alcohol-abuse-and-binge-drinking.