College students everywhere, from ages 18 and up engage in binge drinking. This may be a socially acceptable activity, but it can turn into many health issues, including addiction. If binge drinking becomes a regular occurrence, avoid the dangers of binge drinking by getting help from a Florida alcohol addiction rehab center.
What is Binge Drinking?
Binge drinking is the excessive use of alcohol to produce an elevated blood alcohol content of 0.08g/dl and above. This unhealthy pattern of drinking is common, costly, and deadly.
Although binge drinking occurs in adults, it is a popular means of alcohol consumption for young adults and college students. To raise your BAC to binge drinking levels, it usually only takes the consumption of five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women.
College students generally consume even more alcohol in an instance when drinking. It is increasingly challenging to keep track of how many drinks or level of drunkenness when you’re inexperienced. It may only take a couple of drinks to reach binge drinking capacity when you have no tolerance built up.
Dangers of Binge Drinking
The dangers of binge drinking affect more than just those partaking. Accidents are easier to occur when intoxicated in addition to the personal health consequences of alcohol abuse.
Accidental Injuries
Accidental injuries can range from bruises and black eyes to accidental deaths. The following problems from the dangers of binge drinking can occur:
- While binge drinking normal motor skills are impaired. This leads to stumbles and falls, which can be minor or result in accidental suicide.
- Some individuals struggle with anger when they drink and start fights with those around them. In some cases, they may commit homicide or a struggle with the police.
- Lower blood pressure, especially during winter, results in abnormally low body temperature.
- Alcohol poisoning from such an excessive amount of alcohol often leads college students to the emergency room. The liver is unable to filter out the toxins fast enough, breathing slows, and the central nervous system is affected. It leaves a person incapacitated and at risk of death.
Injuries are not limited to yourself, but you can hurt your friends, family, and strangers. People often gain a false sense of confidence and drive while intoxicated. Every day 29 people die in car accidents from drivers that are impaired after drinking. It could be your friend in the seat next to you, the child in the other car’s backseat, or a stranger taking a walk.
Long-Term Health Issues
Years of binge drinking causes strain on your body and mind. There are many health concerns that people may not originally associate with the dangers of binge drinking.
Physical Health Problems Include:
- Chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, liver disease, heart disease, and stroke
- Sexually transmitted diseases from unprotected sex
- Pregnancy complications like fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and sudden infant death syndrome
- Types of cancer, including mouth, throat, breast, liver, and colon
Substance use disorders, like binge drinking, has been closely related to mental health disorders. Individuals with SUD are more susceptible to mental health issues and vice versa. Psychological consequences of binge drinking could lead to or worsen the following:
- Polysubstance abuse
- Depression disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Phobias
- Memory and learning problems
Avoid the physical and psychological dangers of binge drinking by finding a college student addiction treatment program.
Where to Go for Binge Drinking Recovery
When you’re ready to seek out help to put a stop to the dangers of binge drinking, a variety of addiction treatment programs in FL provide resources and support. There are a variety of addiction specialists, doctors, and therapists that help people every day with alcohol use disorders.