What Is Binge Drinking?
Binge drinking is the practice of consuming large quantities of alcohol at one time. It is typically defined as five or more drinks for a man and four or more for a woman.
In the United States, binge drinking is the most common form of alcohol abuse, often leading to accidents (falls, burns and car crashes) as well as medical conditions such as heart disease, liver disease and stroke.1
I binge drink every chance I get and, to be honest, I am disgusted with myself, but I cannot control my desire to do it. If I drink too much or drink certain drinks, I get breathless and go blotchy all over my body, but I continue to drink until I am so exhausted I fall asleep. I am not sure that I am strong enough to quit my stupidity.” —Allen
By the time I was in my mid-20s I was locked in to drinking.
“A lot of my first concerns were about drinking, and everything else came second.
“I started to realize that, when I didn’t have a drink, I had a sense of panic and I would start shaking.
“If I had to go without a drink, I would go through shakes and sweats. I couldn’t go for more than a few hours without a drink.” —Paul
This past year I have gone to work drunk, blacked out in clubs and bars and can’t remember getting home. Ashamedly, I slept with someone and couldn’t even remember the person coming home with me until we bumped into each other the next day.
“I’ve destroyed two relationships because I hurt them so much through my drinking, but I put drinking first.
“My parents are so hurt that their daughter is killing herself for apparently no reason.”
—Jamie
REFERENCES
- Get the Facts About Underage Drinking, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
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