Binge drinking occurs when someone drinks excessive amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. Officially, drinking turns into binge drinking after about four to five alcoholic beverages within a two hour span. Binge drinking episodes often occur blackouts, taking dangerous risks, and feeling out of control or unable to stop drinking.
Bing drinking elevates you risk of:
- Injuries
- Alcohol poisoning
- Vehicle accidents
- STDs
- Sexual assault
- Alcoholism
There are also secondary risks of alcoholism, such as stillbirth, miscarriage, and SIDs (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Furthermore, people who binge drink face long-term health consequences, including:
- Gastrointestinal problems
- High blood pressure
- Weakened immune system
- Heart disease
- Depression
- Memory problems
- Stroke
- Certain types of cancer
- Pancreatitis
- Liver disease
Why Do People Binge Drink?
Everyone is different. What causes one person to binge drink isn’t the same for another person. Some of the most common reasons people binge drink include:
- Relieving social anxiety
- Allowing you to let loose
- Providing a false sense of confidence
- Attracting attention
- Rebelling
- Forgetting your problems
- Self-medicating
- Peer pressure
How Do You Stop Binge Drinking?
If you struggle with binge drinking, there are several things you can do to avoid drinking too much.
Not all strategies work for everyone, so reflect on what causes you to binge drink and consider which strategies will most benefit you.
Some things you can do to prevent binge drinking include:
- Avoiding places where drinking occurs (bars and parties)
- Finding something that motivates you and focus on that instead
- Rewarding yourself for not drinking
- Asking family and friends for support
- Seeking peer support, such as in a group like Alcoholics Anonymous
- Seeking treatment
Unfortunately, binge drinking is common. This is one of the reasons it’s such a difficult habit to break. If you are concerned about binge drinking or you have any other issues with substance misuse, a professional treatment center for binge drinking can help.
