Binge drinking also increases the likelihood of unsafe sexual behavior and the risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintentional pregnancy. Because of the impairments it produces, binge drinking also increases the likelihood of a host of potentially deadly consequences, including falls, burns, drownings, and car crashes. Choose social interactions where drinking is not involved over drinking events and avoid interacting with peers who continue to pressure you into having another drink even after you refuse. Practice breathing and relaxation exercises to create a state of calm and seek the help of a licensed therapist or counselor to address the mental health issues that are contributing to the binge drinking problem. Do not stock alcohol at home so that you are not tempted to drink out of boredom.
What Is Binge Drinking? Risks, Side Effects, and How to Get Help
Binge drinking has many effects on your body, both over the short and long term. Changes in personality, secrecy about drinking habits, or drinking alone can signal developing problems with alcohol use. This pattern of drinking mainly affects the brain’s reward system, releasing large amounts of dopamine and other neurotransmitters. Over time, this can alter brain chemistry and potentially lead to dependency. Serious emotional and behavioral health conditions may develop in these situations, including depression, anxiety disorders, and other substance use disorders that can grow in severity without treatment.
- More researchers are looking at the effects of alcohol on the intestinal microbiome — the bacteria and other organisms that live inside us.
- People of all ages partake in binge drinking, but half of all people who binge drink are aged 35 and older.
- Binge drinking, characterized by having multiple alcoholic beverages within a two-hour window, can negatively impact multiple areas of a person’s life.
- Therapy, counseling, and lifestyle changes can also aid in breaking free from the cycle of binge drinking.
What Are the Risks of Binge Drinking?
- People may engage in high intensity drinking during parties, holidays, or college events.
- 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 someone needs more help, the NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator can help.
Binge drinking can have significant negative impacts on physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. It is important to be aware of the signs of binge drinking and to seek help if needed. It is important to note that the definitions of binge drinking may vary between Alcohol Use Disorder countries. It is important to note that the short-term impacts of binge drinking can vary depending on factors such as individual tolerance, the amount of alcohol consumed, and other individual characteristics.
The Short-Term Risks of Binge Drinking
If you or a loved one are struggling with the consequences of binge drinking alcohol, it may be time to how to stop binge drinking seek help. They’ll be able to provide you with advice on how to stop binge drinking and cut down on your alcohol consumption. When you binge drink, your brain exhibits neurochemical changes that affect various regions and their specific functionalities. At BAC levels between 0.08% and 0.25%, alcohol disrupts the functioning of the frontal, temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes causing effects like blurred vision, slurred speech, and impaired motor skills. The individual exhibits mood swings, experiences nausea or vomiting, and is unable to think rationally. No, while binge drinking and alcoholism are connected, they’re not the same thing.
Relationship Among Adolescent Risk-Taking, Brain Plasticity, and Drinking
Keep a count of how many drinks you are having and the alcohol content in them. Learn how to resist peer pressure by being assertive but polite when declining an offer of a drink. Binge drinking is defined as a problematic alcohol use pattern that brings up blood alcohol concentration to 0.08% or more. This happens when men drink five or more alcoholic beverages and a female, four or more, within two hours. Someone with alcoholism might also binge drink, unable to stop once they start. The key difference is that binge drinking happens sporadically while alcoholism is a disease that impacts all aspects of life.