Binge drinking isn’t something that’s acceptable to do on the weekends. It can create a number of health risks the first time you engage in it. Over time, the more you drink, the higher your risks become. Understanding binge drinking dangers is important for anyone that engages in routine alcohol use. For some, it can quickly lead to alcohol abuse and alcoholism. At TruHealing Centers, we provide a range of addiction treatment program options to help you through this process.
What Is Binge Drinking?
Whether at a college party or just watching the game, some people engaging in binge drinking without realizing it. This is generally the consumption of numerous alcoholic beverages in a short amount of time. For most, this is five or more drinks within just two hours for men and four or more alcoholic drinks within two hours for women. Drinking this much, even in a single day, can put your health at risk.
What are the binge drinking dangers you should be watching for? Keep in mind that any time you consume this amount of alcohol in a short timeframe, you are overtaxing your body. That means you can create immediate and acute problems, and you can create long-term outcomes.
3 Serious Dangers of Binge Drinking
1. Alcoholic Poisoning
One of the most significant risk factors when binge drinking is putting too much alcohol into your body well beyond what it can manage. Since the kidneys and liver cannot process this much alcohol quickly, it leads to the alcohol remaining in the bloodstream, traveling to your brain, heart, and other organs. This toxicity overruns your body and makes it impossible for the brain to regulate function. This leads to alcohol poisoning, a life-threatening condition that can lead to sudden death.
2. Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol abuse occurs when a person routinely engages in drinking, even just a few times a month. Binge drinking like this causes alcohol abuse.
You’ll find yourself:
- Drinking or thinking about drinking often
- Using alcohol as a way to deal with stress
- Not being able to limit how much you drink in a setting
- Drinking alone
- Consuming alcohol whenever you can
3. Alcoholism
Alcoholism is one of the most important binge drinking dangers to recognize. Even if you do not binge drink often, even limited instances of doing so can cause you to develop an addiction. Addiction occurs when a person knows the risks of continuing to engage in alcohol use and still does so. It also can create dependence, where your body craves the alcohol. If you stop using it, you feel withdrawal symptoms, including headaches, agitation, anxiety, and an overwhelming desire to use. Alcoholism creates long-term health consequences, as well.
What Can You Do About Binge Drinking?
If you find yourself engaging in binge drinking, it’s critical to take action. That includes reaching out to a professional alcohol treatment center. Treatment for alcohol abuse and alcoholism can occur in a safe setting where you do not have to go through withdrawal. You can overcome the challenges to your physical and mental health that drinking has created. Binge drinking can become dangerous quickly, so don’t wait to get help. Instead, reach out to our TruHealing Centers team today to learn how we can support you.
We offer programs such as:
- Drug and alcohol detox
- Residential addiction treatment
- Partial hospitalization programs
- Intensive outpatient program
- Outpatient treatment programs
- Community housing services
Explore the Treatment You Need at TruHealing Centers
Binge drinking is a serious health risk. Understanding the binge drinking dangers may encourage you to stop engaging in it. Yet, there’s also the need to overcome alcohol abuse and alcoholism. When you are ready to do that, turn to our team at TruHealing Centers. We’re here to support you when you call [Direct] or reach out to us online.