According to a latest report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 38 million US adults (in other words, one in six Americans) binge drink about four times a month.
The report also states around 20% of high school girls binge drink. The figure stands at 24% for girls between the ages of 18-24. As Binge drinking can have serious negative effects on the health of women, these figures are quite worrisome.
Unfortunately, in many schools and colleges, binge drinking has become a part of the culture and can mean the difference between experiencing a hangover vs. alcohol poisoning symptoms.
Peer pressure is one of the major reasons that motivate young people to experiment with alcohol.
Binge drinking is defined as the consumption of four or more alcohol drinks for women (five or more drinks for men) on an occasion.
Considering the fact that excessive alcohol consumption is one of the major causes of premature deaths in the US and elsewhere, binge drinking poses a serious threat to our society. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that binge drinking is one of the biggest challenges faced by health authorities in the US. Alcohol rehab centers have a major role to play when it comes to helping people stay away from binge drinking.
Why Binge Drinking is Harmful?
Short term health effects of binge drinking:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Hangover
- Alcohol Poisoning
In addition to physical symptoms, binge drinking exposes you to a number of risks. Loss of self-control is one of the major factors associated with binge drinking. When you’re drunk, you increase your chances of becoming a victim or perpetrator of crime. Binge drinking also causes car accidents and other injuries to people.
Long Term Health Effects of Binge Drinking
Indulging in binge drinking for a prolonged period of time can have serious negative health effects. Here are a few of the more common effects of long term binge drinking:
- Brain damage
- Cancer
- Heart Problems
- Sexual Problems
- Delirium Tremens (DTs)
Effects of Binge Drinking
Binge drinking can also cause mental health problems. Additionally binge drinking leads to alcohol addiction that may prove to be very harmful.
While the focus must be on prevention, it is important to get people suffering from the disease now the help they need. The guidance and assistance provided by qualified medical practitioners working at a reliable treatment center can help overcome the habit of binge drinking.
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