Local Rehab Reports on Binge Drinking

Lexington, KY - Altruism Counseling Services recently published a blog post educating the community on binge drinking and whether it is a sign of an alcohol use disorder. Anyone can binge drink whether they have an alcohol use disorder or not. Binge drinking occurs when a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) rises to 0.08% or higher. This happens after 5 drinks for the average man and 4 for the average woman. The standard drink size varies depending on the type of beverage it is. The standard size is 14 grams of pure alcohol, around 12 ounces for beer or 1.5 ounces for distilled spirit. However, each person is different, which means the amount of drinks for an individual to reach 0.08% varies. Factors like weight, height, and alcohol intolerance all play a role.

“Binge drinking is relatively common in the United States. In 2023, 61.4 million people in the United States participated in binge drinking. This being said, some groups are more likely to engage. These include young adults, older adults, and women,” the blog post states.

Some signs indicate someone might be close to reaching the 0.08% BAC without using a breathalyzer. One of these includes not remembering how many drinks they consumed or if they or someone else knows they have drunk more than the standard guidelines for their gender. Short-term side effects will also be present. These include an inability to concentrate, lowered inhibitions, reduced reaction times, and poor vision. Blackouts are also common for people who have been binge drinking. These are when someone loses all or part of their memory during the time of consuming alcohol. Other potential signs and symptoms include lowered mood, worsening mental health symptoms, or hangxiety, which is when anxiety occurs alongside a hangover.

Binge drinking has serious consequences for a person’s health and safety. For example, lowered inhibitions as a result of this practice can result in unintentional pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, drownings, car crashes, and falls. It can also put someone at risk of getting a DUI (driving under the influence) charge. Physically, long-term binge drinking results in a decreased immune system, inflammation of the pancreas, liver diseases, or the development of certain cancers like esophageal and liver. People who binge drink are also at an increased risk of alcohol poisoning, which is a medical emergency that requires 911 to be called. Do not assume someone can simply sleep it off. Common signs of alcohol poisoning include vomiting, slow breathing, blue or pale skin, not being able to stay awake, and hypothermia.

Binge drinking does not automatically mean that someone has an alcohol use disorder, but it can be a potential sign, especially if they have other signs associated with the condition. These include not being able to stop drinking, frequently thinking about alcohol, giving up hobbies, not stopping alcohol use despite mental or physical health conditions, and experiencing withdrawal symptoms. They might also feel like they need more alcohol over time to feel the same effects, neglect their responsibilities, and have concerns with their family or friends because of alcohol.

“Even with an alcohol use disorder, it is still possible to stop binge drinking with the help of treatment for alcoholism. Treatment can teach you the skills and tools necessary to recover from this condition. These skills are typically found in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This type of therapy helps you identify harmful thoughts that might appear around binge drinking. In turn, it enables you to develop coping skills that assist you in changing those thoughts into healthier ones,” the blog post continues.

Altruism Counseling Services helps people find themselves again in Lexington, KY. Founded on Alcohol Anonymous' principle of altruism, they believe in helping others and empowering them to succeed in recovery. They also offer DUI and anger management classes that help many people with alcohol use disorder find healing and freedom to start again. Additionally, they provide psychological assessments for both mental health and substance use disorders.

For more information, call them at 859-310-6505 or visit their website to learn how they help people find themselves again.