First off, what is binge drinking? It can be defined as consuming large quantities of alcohol in a single session. Binge drinking is usually considered five or more drinks at any one time for a man or four or more drinks for a woman. Moreover, about 90 percent of the alcohol consumed by youths today is in the form of binge drinking.
Evaluating our lives honestly is not an easy task; because it takes a great deal of courage. However, if heavy drinking is a part of your life, a reckoning now could save you much heartache later.
Binge drinking is dangerous and can be deadly in extreme cases. However, we can help you evaluate your habits and decide your next steps. We encourage you to reach out today at 405-583-4390 for more information and expert advice.
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Continue reading below for more information about how to stop binge drinking. Furthermore, if you require more information please contact us. Our specialists will help you get the treatment you need to start your sober life today.
Helpful Tips
Many people have no idea where to begin once they realize that their drinking has become problematic. Just admitting the issue exists and wanting to change is a big step, but getting out of the cycle of drinking too much can be difficult without a game plan. For instance, here are a few good ways to get the ball rolling:
- Network – get the support of family and friends to help you succeed
- Find like-minded friends to associate with
- Do other activities that do not involve drinking
- Start to learn good coping skills
- Get help from a treatment facility
- Recognize your triggers
- Keep a drink journal
- Drink more slowly
Defining”Triggers”
As with most people who abuse substances, binge drinkers have “triggers.” These are uncomfortable situations or difficult emotions that encourage people to drink as a way of coping. For instance, you might be more prone to drink heavily after a stressful day of work. But when someone figures out what triggers them to drink, they can learn healthier ways to cope. For example, you might take a relaxing bath to ease stress instead of having a drink. Do you need help with your tiggers? Do you know someone that might? Then call us today and our experts will help you start a healthier life.
Slow Down Your Intake
Another method that can reduce binge drinking is to simply slow down your alcohol intake. This is a great method to limit your bingeing.
If you can, try to drink non-alcoholic drinks between the alcoholic ones. This will limit you to fewer alcoholic drinks per hour. It is healthier to avoid alcohol consumption altogether if possible, but this method is practicable for those who want to avoid binge drinking without cutting out alcohol completely.
Write it Down
Are you looking for a more creative way to stop binge drinking? Then try simply recording your drinks in a “drink journal.” This can help you cut down. But it will also give you a better idea of how much you drink.
Write down the situation you were in when you binge drank, including how you were feeling emotionally. This can help you identify ‘triggers’ and help you start to understand your drinking habits more clearly. However, are you looking for more ways to help cut down on your intake of alcohol? Do you just want to get a specilists opinion? Then call us today. We will help you make sure you have all of the information you need to live your healthiest life.
What About Your Friends?
Does your social life seem to revolve around drinking? One of the best tips is to change who you hang out with. This is a very important question to ask yourself. Are your current friends helping or hurting you? Because if your current friends are not concerned about the harmful effects of binge drinking in your life, it may be time to find more positive friends.
It can also help to find friends that want to go out to see a movie or attend concerts with you versus going to a bar. There are people you can play sports with or go hiking. Whatever you like to do aside from drinking, then rearrange your life to include more of it. This is an easy way to dramatically reduce the amount you drink. But am I an alcoholic if I binge drink?
Who Does Binge Drinking Affect?
One in six adults in the U.S. binge drinks at least four times a month. This results in a whopping 17 billion drinks consumed annually in the course of bingeing. This sounds staggering, doesn’t it? And it is! However, do not let binge drinking consume a life. Call us today to get the help that you need to save someone from the devastating effects of drinking too much.
Binge Drinking Can Affect Anyone
Binge drinking is not specific to any age group or gender. About 17% of U.S. adults report binge drinking in the past year. Binge drinking frequency decreases with age but remains common among older adults. More than 1 in 10 people aged 65 and older binge drink at least once a month. Also, men are more likely to binge drink than women, but the gap is beginning to close.
In addition, the number of women who binge drink has steadily increased over the past decade. Today it is more socially acceptable for women to drink excessively than it used to be. Recent increases in binge drinking among women are alarming. Because women are more susceptible to the risks linked to excessive alcohol use. For instance, these include liver disease, heart disease, blackouts, hangovers, and certain cancers.
Alcohol-Related Deaths
An estimated 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes each year, making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in our country. The biggest killer is tobacco and the second is poor diet combined with physical inactivity.
For example, some common facts to keep in mind regarding binge drinking are:
- Binge drinking is most prevalent among young adults aged 18–34.
- Bingeing is twice as common among men as it is with women.
- People with household incomes of $75,000 or more and higher levels of education are more likely to binge than those with lower incomes and educational levels.
- Over 90 percent of U.S. adults who drink excessively report binge drinking in the past 30 days.
- Most people younger than age 21 who drink alcohol report binge drinking and often consuming large amounts.
Moreover, do not suffer alone. Call us today and we will help you stop your alcohol addiction now. Let us help you start your journey to sobriety today.
Health Problems Due to Binge Drinking
The dangers of binge drinking can cause all sorts of difficulties in your life. For instance, broken relationships, lost jobs, and even premature death. A few of the health problems that can arise from drinking including the following:
- Unintentional injuries from a car crash, falls, burns, and alcohol poisoning.
- Violence, for example, homicide, suicide, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault.
- Sexually transmitted diseases.
- Unintended pregnancy, also, poor pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage and stillbirth.
- Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
- Sudden infant death syndrome.
- Chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and liver disease.
- Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon.
- Memory and learning problems.
- Alcohol use disorders.
- Death.
You may wonder, what is moderate alcohol consumption? According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020, moderate drinking is up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men. However, heavy alcohol use and binge drinking can increase an individual’s risk of alcohol use disorder.
Individuals should avoid alcohol completely when they:
- Drive or operate machinery
- Participate in activities that require skill, alertness, and coordination
- Take prescription medications or other medications that combine poorly with alcohol
- Have other detrimental medical conditions
- Are recovering from alcohol use disorder
- Can’t control the amount that they drink
- Are younger than age 21
- Are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
Binge Drinking is Dangerous
The effects of binge drinking are serious. Binge drinking puts a person at risk of short- and long-term health problems. For instance, these problems include hangovers, injuries, alcohol poisoning, heart disease, liver disease, and cancer. Binge drinking can also lead to risky decision-making and result in a range of physical and social consequences that include violence and unsafe sexual behavior.
Binge drinking and alcohol use disorder is different. While many people may binge drink occasionally, however, adults with mild-to-severe alcohol use disorder are unable to limit their consumption. They often drink to avoid negative emotions. Then they may obsess over when they can drink next.
Alcohol use disorder is considered a long-term disorder. It is a problem if someone continues to binge drink even when it causes difficulties in their life. Do not let binge drinking control your life. Contact our experts today to start getting the help you deserve.
Binge Drinking is Preventable
The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend that if people consume alcohol, they do so in moderation. This means women should drink no more than one drink a day. Men should drink no more than two. Some people should never drink. Following these guidelines will reduce the possible effects that alcohol has on your health.
Each year, thousands of people end up in the emergency room due to alcohol poisoning. This is when heavy alcohol use affects the central nervous system to the point of slowing breathing and heart rate. It also reduces the gag reflex, increasing your risk of choking on vomit.
If a person who has been drinking a lot is confused, vomits, has a seizure, has pale skin, or passes out, it can be a sign of alcohol poisoning. This is a medical emergency. It can lead to brain damage and possibly death.
Please call 911 if a person has any of these serious symptoms of alcohol poisoning:
- Seizure
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Unconsciousness
- Very slow breathing rate
- Unresponsive
Brighter Days Ahead
Did you know that about one in every ten people who binge drink suffer from alcoholism? If you are one of these people or even think you are, you may need to take a more serious approach to address the problem.
Finally, if learning more about binge drinking and how to stop has not helped, you may need to get help from an addiction specialist. A professional treatment facility might be the best way to regain control of your life. Treatment specialists understand addiction and how to tackle it.
There are many ways to approach the issue of how to stop binge drinking. There is no right or wrong way to deal with it. The only thing that matters is to find the method that works for you.
In short, if you or someone you love is having issues with binge drinking, don’t wait to get help. More than 2,000 Americans die every year from alcohol poisoning. Speak with one of our treatment specialists today, and find the best option to get you or your loved one started on the road to recovery.
Written by Susan Way
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Sources
- https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm
- https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/moderate-binge-drinking
- https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics
- https://magazine.medlineplus.gov/article/how-much-is-too-much-5-things-you-need-to-know-about-binge-drinking
- https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=1&contentid=1924
