By: Zinnia Healing Editorial Staff | Edited By: Rebecca Hill
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Defining Binge Drinking, Risks, and When to Seek Help
Most adults in the U.S. will consume alcohol at some point during their lives. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 54.9% of surveyed adults reported having at least one drink within the past month. While most people can safely consume alcohol and never experience any negative consequences from it, others will struggle with the ability to control the amount they drink.
While roughly 6% of the US adult population struggles with alcohol abuse disorder, a significant segment of the population participates in dangerous binge drinking sessions.
Learn more about what binge drinking is and when excessive drinking may indicate that it’s time to attend a rehab facility for alcohol abuse.
What Is Binge Drinking?
Binge drinking is the act of excessive consumption of alcohol. Not every person who engages in binge drinking behaviors has an alcohol use disorder, though. Binge drinkers often drink to excess in social situations.
They often experience negative consequences of excessive drinking, but do not necessarily have a dependence on alcohol or experience cravings for alcohol. However, people who are addicted to alcohol sometimes engage in binge drinking behaviors.
Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of drinking that raises a person’s blood alcohol level (BAC) level to .08% or above quickly.
Typically, this means five drinks in two hours for men and four drinks per two hours for women.
What Are the Significant Risks Associated With Binge Drinking?
Binge drinking can cause many serious problems, including increased incidents of accidents, traumatic injuries, and alcohol poisoning. Other significant risks associated with binge drinking include:
Domestic violence, sexual assault, and suicide
Risks of STIs
Poor pregnancy outcomes, such as miscarriages and stillbirths
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
SIDs
Increased risk of developing chronic health problems
Cancer
Problems with memory and cognition
Risk of alcohol dependence
Who Is at Risk of Becoming a Binge Drinker?
Young men are the most at-risk for engaging in binge drinking behaviors. Unfortunately, recurrent episodes of binge drinking as a young person increase the chances of that person developing a full-blown addiction to alcohol later in life.
What Demographics Are the Most Notorious Binge Drinkers?
People between the ages of 18 and 34 are most likely to binge drink.
One in six U.S. adults will binge drink at least four times per month, and they will consume an average of seven drinks per session.
Men are more likely to binge drink than women.
Binge drinking is more common in households with annual incomes of $75,000 or more, and in those who have obtained higher levels of education.
Binge drinkers with lower education levels consume more binge drinks per session than more educated binge drinkers.
90% of US adults who drink in excess report binge drinking in the past 30 days.
People younger than 21 who drink alcohol also binge drink, and some consume more alcohol in a binge drinking session than people over 21.
What Are the Symptoms of Binge Drinking?
Binge drinkers do not always have an AUD, but continuing to engage in binge drinking can lead to alcohol dependence. Binge drinking usually occurs on weekends and holidays, where binge drinkers will rationalize their excessive alcohol consumption.
Binge drinkers and heavy drinkers alike don’t drink daily but during certain occasions. They will often ignore family and friend’s concerns.
People who binge drink often drink more than they intend. This is also a sign of a potential alcohol use disorder forming in an at-risk person.
Engaging in risky behaviors, such as drunk driving or unsafe sex, are common occurrences with binge drinkers. Failing to uphold certain duties and forgetfulness due to excessive alcohol consumption is another symptom.
Why Does Someone Need Treatment for Binge Drinking?
Untreated, binge drinking can turn into alcohol dependence. In addition, binge drinking causes a person to become severely impaired. They can put themselves and others at risk of bodily harm.
Drinking costs the U.S. economy $249 billion per year because of increased costs associated with:
The criminal justice system
Losses in workplace productivity
Increased healthcare costs
Binge drinking accounts for 77% of the $249 billion in annual losses. Binge drinking behaviors strain families and communities.
Excessive drinking can also harm babies and children. It’s crucial that people who struggle with excessive binge drinking behaviors get treatment for these problems before they spiral entirely out of control.
When relationships, work, and the ability to function in day-to-day life are impaired, it’s time to seek alcohol addiction treatment.
How Is Someone Treated for Binge Drinking?
Meeting with a trained therapist for alcohol use disorder is often recommended as the first step toward treatment. A therapist can help someone identify the root causes of their binge drinking behavior, see all the consequences of binge drinking holistically, and form effective, custom treatment options.
People who seek treatment for binge drinking need support from family and loved ones. Group therapy and family therapy can also be helpful for learning the individual’s triggers and how to cope with them so that the patient can avoid binge drinking.
For many people with an alcohol use disorder, detox and inpatient treatment are recommended. Being separated from alcohol, toxic environments, and every day stressors can be the ideal place for someone to get well.
Alcohol addiction treatment options include detox, inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, support groups like AA and Celebrate Recovery, and aftercare options like sober living.
A personalized treatment approach is the most effective way to identify a person’s triggers and develop achievable goals for their future well-being.
How Long Does Alcohol Addiction Treatment Last?
Treatment for binge drinking is specific to each individual patient. Learning how to be vigilant and avoid triggers that can lead to binge drinking is a lifelong habit.
It’s possible to treat binge drinking behaviors and prevent the development of AUD with help from trained therapists and family support.
If your binge drinking has progressed to alcohol addiction, call Zinnia Healing at (855) 430-9439 to learn more about treatment and recovery.