Did you know that in the US, approximately 58 million people above the age of 12 participated in binge drinking? According to the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) compiled by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), it was found that “nearly one quarter (22.6 percent) of persons aged 12 or older participated in binge drinking. This translates to about 58.3 million people. The rate in 2011 was similar to the estimate in 2010 (23.1 percent).” The fact that so many people abuse alcohol in the US, starting at such a young age is alarming. But what triggers binge drinking?
First, let’s find out what it is.
What is Binge Drinking?
Someone who drinks excessive amounts of alcohol in a short space of time only to get drunk or experience the effects of it can be defined as a binge drinker. The amount of alcohol considered to be binge drinking is dependent on an individual’s gender. In fact, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) state that “for women, this usually occurs after about 4 drinks and for men, after about 5.” When binge drinking is continued over a long period of time, it can cause serious health repercussions and can damage important body parts such as the liver. It may even lead to alcohol addiction, which is a physical and mental reliance to drink.
Situations That Trigger Binge Drinking
Here are some common scenarios that cause people to binge drink:
Partying with friends
If you think peer pressure is something that only teenager’s experience, think again. It’s something that remains with us for our entire lives. If you have friends that drink, the chances are that you will also drink.
Stress
After a hard and pressure-filled day, we often feel that we deserve a break. If we injure ourselves or feel sad, we often look for something to cheer us up. Some people use alcohol as this stress-relieving outlet, which is not a healthy way to deal with pressure. But why drink? This is because alcohol is a central nervous system depressant and has the ability to change the way we feel and to forget about the real world.
Loneliness
Being alone may have its benefits with regards to peace and quiet but it also has its disadvantages. When someone is alone when they don’t want to be, it often causes the individual to do things that they normally wouldn’t do. Drinking is usually one of these things and when no one is around to see how much alcohol is being consumed; people may often drink well over the binge drinking limit.
Binge Drinking Help
If you can relate any of the above to yourself or a loved one, then it’s important to get help immediately.
There are various ways to stop binge drinking, for example:
Cutting down on the amount of money you spend can lead to a drop in the amount of alcohol you drink. By simply staying busy at parties will give you the opportunity to avoid alcohol and being a ‘party pooper’. Make your own decisions. It’s your life and if your friends cannot respect the fact that you do not want to drink, then they are probably not your real friends after all. If you or a loved one has a binge drinking problem, we want to help you. We provide access into the best private alcohol treatment centers in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Thailand.
Call us now and let one of our qualified addiction counsellors find the best treatment available for you or your loved one.