By Daniel M Manson
By the time they turn eighteen, seventy percent of American teens will
have had at least one drink. And while they drink less frequently than
legal drinkers, they Α̲̅я̩̥̊ε̲̣̣̣̥ more likely to binge drink.
While this may not seem like a significant problem in
comparison with other drug issues like prescription drug abuse, meth
and synthetic drugs, the perils of binge drinking are real. Binge
drinking means consuming large quantities of alcohol within a small
period of time--at least five drinks in two hours.
Ninety percent of the alcohol consumed by underage
drinkers is taken in during binge drinking. The dangers of
this are multi-faceted: not only do they make the user
less alert and more susceptible to fatal accidents, it
increases the chance of alcohol poisoning and overdose.
Additionally, it has a vastly negative impact on the still-
developing teenage brain, causing lowered IQ and
attention problems in adulthood.
Binge Alcohol Use And Alcoholism
While drinking excessively does not always result in
alcohol addiction, it plays a big part. At the very least, it
signifies reckless, irresponsible behavior, a major trait in
alcoholics who can't control their habits. Binge drinkers
are seeking a wild rush and an escape from life--just like
alcoholics.
Younger drinkers in particular lack experience with
responsible drinking. It is therefore worrisome that binge
drinking runs rampant among high school and college
students across the United States. When it is part of the
culture, it is difficult to escape.
One night of this behavior can turn into routine, which is
how alcoholism develops (more than fourteen drinks in
men or seven or more drinks in women per week).
When the user builds up tolerance, he often turns to
heavier drugs such as prescription opioids, heroin and
cocaine. It is for this reason that alcohol is known as a
gateway drug.
The Increase In Reckless Behavior
People who binge drink are far more likely to engage in
dangerous activity such as driving under the influence or
getting into a car with a drunk driver. Binge drinking often
results in blackouts, and the user may wake up with
absolutely no recollection of what happened while he
was under the influence of alcohol. Such situations are
linked to date rape, teen pregnancies, and violent
behavior.
Drinkers may wake up in a jail cell and have no idea
what occurred. Treatment When alcoholism invades your
life, shattering your dreams and tearing away the people
you love, the vicious circle usually continues as most
users rely on alcohol as an emotional crutch. Yet
recovering addicts admit that they regret drowning out
years of their lives and wish they addressed the problem
earlier.
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