...BINGE DRINKING I am a previous alcoholic. When I was in the service and before I met my wife, I could kill a 24 pack of beer every night. It caused me a lot of problems such as financially and socially. I was not as popular as I thought I would be if I drank a lot. The financial burden was the worst. I never bought anything, but alcohol. Also, I never had any money even though I just got paid because I had drunk away my whole paycheck. I honestly feel that if I had gone to college instead of joining the Army, I would have failed and ended up dropping out because of alcohol. I finally straightened up my act when I met my wife. I realized that I had someone else besides myself to take care of financially and emotionally. Yeah I have a beer or a drink about once a year, usually on my anniversary or birthday, but that is it. After realizing that I could live a fulfilling life without alcohol in it, I am much better off. Binge drinking is a major problem on college campuses. Yes, binge drinking can be fun. Binge drinking is a problem because it is very detrimental to your health, goals in life may also be affected, and social life being influenced. Some of the major health issues that are introduced by binge drinking are alcoholism, liver disease, alcohol poisoning, maybe even death. According to The Center for Disease Control (CDC) “It is estimated that more than 38 million US adults binge drink, about 4 times a month, and the largest number of drinks per binge...
Words: 778 - Pages: 4
...One the Streets of Binge Britain Binge drinking is a major problem in Great Britain, and most of the violent crime is caused by binge drinking. In this article from Guardian, Jay Rayner brings binge drinking into focus and talks to some people who in a way have experienced binge drinking. Jay Rayner is giving us a great picture of what a typical night in Basingstoke is, a lot of accidents and violent crime caused by alcohol drinking. A mother, who is sprawled and her son, who is thrown out of a pub because for being drunk and unruly, a victim who is bleeding from the brow because another drunk guy who stabbed him and a woman stepping on another woman’s head. The Basingstoke police call this ‘a quiet night’. Police constable Mark O’Hanlon says that the butchers and bakes are moving to the bigger supermarkets so all the empty shops are now huge pubs and bars with good discounts ‘take two for one’ and that is a problem because it is the police that have to clean up the mess. Tony Blair has labeled binge drinking as ‘the new British disease’ and has recommended at daily number of units, four for women and five for men. But the statistics show us that 14 million working day are lost because of alcohol abuse. 70 pct. of all admissions to the A&E are the result of alcohol. Stephen Green, Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire says that alcohol drives all violent crime except crime associated with guns and that is a major problem! Phillips, executive chief of the charity Alcohol...
Words: 837 - Pages: 4
...Rowley’s finding about college students engaging in binge drinking is accurate with my own experiences. I’ve never indulged in binge drinking, but I witnessed many of my friends participate in it. When I consumed alcohol I was responsible enough to drink socially, and not go overboard with it. Binge drinking or “getting drunk” amongst my peers was definitely viewed as a rite of passage because it symbolized that you’re officially an adult. Binge drinking was the only way many of my friends celebrated their 21st birthday. Besides consuming large quantities of alcohol on their 21st birthdays, my friends would also get intoxicated after a night of partying at a club or hanging out, which turned into a habit. They encouraged me to participate in binge drinking, but I was fearful due to the horror stories I’ve heard. Some of my friends explained to me how horrible a hangover felt, and how they couldn’t remember what happen the night before when they drank too much alcohol, which made me think twice about getting intoxicated. I remember the time when one of my friends was arrested and charged with a D.U.I. He told me he spent some days in jail and had to appear in court. As a result of his negligence, his license was suspended. I’ve learned so many lessons from my friends about binge drinking that it forced me not to engage in it. These experiences provided me with plenty insight about the dangers and consequences of binge drinking. From my experience of partying and hanging out with...
Words: 284 - Pages: 2
...College Students and Their Awareness of Binge Drinking I have just been awarded $20,000 by the National Institute of Health to conduct a study on one of the growing health-risk behaviors among college students in the state of Florida. I am going to propose a survey based on how much students truly know about binge drinking. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that affects every organ in the body. It is quickly absorbed from the stomach and poured into the bloodstream. The intensity of the effect the alcohol causes on the body is determined by the amount of alcohol consumed. Everyone can have different reactions and repercussions when drinking alcohol. Some people get angry, some get sad, happy, tired, wild, or depressed. Since alcohol is an erratic drug, the outcome of drinking will constantly change and many factors will affect this outcome. Binge drinking is another word for heavy episodic drinking. Both can be defined as drinking alcoholic with the primary intention of becoming heavily intoxicated. Binge drinking is closely associated with social drinking and is often performed in groups. Binge drinkers drink a lot and drink it fast to feel a sooner and more powerful effect. This is the most common patter of excessive alcohol use throughout the United States. “The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings a persons blood alcohol concentration to 0.08 grams or above.” When men consumer 5 or...
Words: 1610 - Pages: 7
...Mount Isa residents are more likely to binge drink than their Gold Coast counterparts, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Because of its large mining workforce there is a binge drinking culture. So says Jordan Hawke, executive general manager of insurance company Asteron Life, which analysed data for the Australian Bureau of Statistics for The Sun Herald. “Workers in Mount Isa are in that younger age group – they work two weeks on and two weeks off,” Mr Hawke said. “When they get it off they get it on.” Many of the miners are employed by Mount Isa Mines, owned by Xstrata Copper. In February, the Federal Government recognised a need to combat binge drinking in the Mount Isa and Cloncurry areas handing over $278,981 to the Cloncurry PCYC for the Chill Out project. But Mount Isa Mayor Tony McGrady says Mount Isa does not have a problem with binge drinking. “The incidences of drunkenness is limited and there is no evidence that binge drinking takes place among adults in this city,” Councillor McGrady said. “Mount Isa is one of the oldest mining communities but we are a very sophisticated community. “The vast majority of people in Mount Isa drink in moderation.” Cr McGrady was skeptical of the ABS figures and questioned their validity. “Why are we spending taxpayers’ money on these inquiries; can’t the money be put to better use?” he said. “People who make these comments cause a lot of damage in communities. Show me the...
Words: 254 - Pages: 2
...What is Binge Drinking? Binge drinking is defined as "the consumption of five or more drinks in a row on at least one occasion." In national surveys (in the USA) about a third of high school seniors and 45 percent of college students reported at least one occasion of binge drinking within the previous 2 weeks. March 26, 2004: The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse reports that, “More than five million high schoolers binge drink at least once a month.” As a Floridian who lives near one of the 'Spring Break" hot spots, this comes as no great shock. I guess there are a lot of parents out there who are surprised by these numbers and yet, what were they doing in college or when the drinking age was 18? How do you expect your kid to just say no, when you said yes not that long ago? Talk to your teenagers and be honest with them! ~ Amy. RN ~ [pic] While some national surveys have documented a significant decline in the use of other drugs by high school seniors and college-age youths, there have been only small declines in the numbers reporting binge drinking. Teenagers and young adults drink alcoholic beverages at about the same rates they did 5 years ago. Binge drinking increases the risk for alcohol-related injury, especially for young people, who often combine alcohol with other high-risk activities, such as impaired driving. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the four leading injury-related causes of death among youths under the age of...
Words: 4997 - Pages: 20
...Binge drinking among university students is a widespread issue among university and college students in North America and there is a growing consensus of its serious threats to students’ wellbeing (Geisner 2012, Pascall 2003, Wolaver 2002). Binge drinking can be defined as the consumption of five or more drinks in one sitting for males, and four or more drinks for females (Geisner 2012). In 2008, Statistics Canada looked at how many young adults, ages 18-24 participated in “heavy” drinking, defined as 3-5 drinks on a weekly basis. The statistics showed that 41% of males and 29.3% of females participated in this weekly activity (Statistics Canada 2008). Additionally, the Canadian Centre of Substance Abuse did a study solely on undergraduate/...
Words: 1144 - Pages: 5
...of this study is to explore associations between heavy college drinking and common health behaviors such as exercise, dieting, and sleep patterns. Binge drinking on college campuses is a common issue across the country that can unfortunately lead young adults on progressively damaging and expensive trajectories. The main focus surrounding binge drinking and college students has always been heavily focused on the more high-risk short-term consequences (e.g., physical/sexual assault, unintentional injury, motor vehicle collisions, ETC). Although these are severe community health issues, patterns in excessive college drinking may also portray information about lifestyle factors (e.g., exercise, diet, sleep), both present and future....
Words: 1675 - Pages: 7
...Drinking binges are generally occurring among college aged people. Binge drinking also known as episodic drinking is defined as “drinking alcoholic beverages with the primary intention of becoming intoxicated by heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time. “Some binge drinkers may also consume a consistent amount of alcohol over a long period of time, also leading to intoxication. Binge drinking can also be described as four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men per sitting. “Binge drinking is a kind of purposeful drinking style, and somewhat overlaps with social drinking since it is often done in groups.” Due to long-term effects of alcohol misuse binge drinking is considered to be a major public health issue. “As college students arrive on campus, it’s a time of new experiences, new friendships, and making memories that will last forever.” Binge drinking is more common in males, during young adulthood. Most binge drinkers do not know any of the risks associated with binge drinking. “Heavy regular binge drinking is associated with negative effects on neurologic, cardiac, gastrointestinal, hematologic, psychiatric, immune and musculoskeletal organ systems.” Up to one third of college aged people binge drink, six percent result in having an alcohol related substance use disorder. Binge drinking in college aged people is commonly associated to unprotected sex, car accidents, unplanned pregnancy, contraction of diseases, suicide and other types of...
Words: 801 - Pages: 4
...Binge drinking is a pattern in which a person drinks excessively and it could make their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) go up to 0.08 grams percent or above(CDC, 2014).Binge drinking starts when a woman consumes 4 or more drinks in 2 hours and 5 or more drinks for men. Young adults from ages 18–34 are more likely to binge drink (CDC, 2014). College students who are knowledgeable about binge drinking can help themselves avoid the consequences that come with it. Some consequences from binge drinking are death, injury, assault, and sexual abuse (“NIAAA”, n.d.). It is important to avoid binge drinking because it could cause health problems such as cardiovascular disease, depression, seizures, and high blood pressure. Binge drinking could also...
Words: 1118 - Pages: 5
...Lombari Professor Delucia MDS 101-02 2 December 2015 The Other Hangover: Binge Drinking in College Drinking on college campuses, it happens. Just “drinking” isn’t enough, and binge or excessive drinking has become a social phenomenon… and in the eyes of college students, not a problem. Whether it is health risks, academic consequences, or social issues that may be caused due to binge drinking, it is not healthy for students. The Other Hangover is an anti-binge drinking campaign targeting college students nationwide. With the slogan “Put down the beer to keep your mind clear”, The Other Hangover is attempting end binge drinking one student at a time. What is causing binge drinking? Well it’s simply the thing to do in college. Students widely believe that alcohol makes them a better and more social person. In a nationwide survey done by CORE, students reported binge drinking to; enhance social activity, have something to do, have more fun, facilitate a connection with peers, break the ice, and have something to talk about. (CORE, 2011) The act of drinking alcohol is not exactly the problem, legal or not. The main problem is the act of binge drinking of college students, legal age or not. There are many students who binge drink and don’t see a problem with it. Many students don’t see an issue with drinking 10 shots and 7 beers in one night, and that is the problem. Due to social and media influence, drinking to the point of illness and possible hospital trip is the “cool” thing...
Words: 1130 - Pages: 5
...ABSTRACT: Binge drinking refers to repeated alternation between massive alcohol intakes and is becoming increasingly prominent among young adults (Johnston , 2012). It has been largely established that excessive alcohol consumption leads to marked cerebral impairments. Alcohol and other substance use disorders may involve deregulation of emotional and motivational systems in the brain (Lovallo, 2006).Several studies have shown that alcoholics exhibit deficits in several aspects of emotional functioning and they are impaired in recognizing emotional prosody in speech –non linguistic aspects of language that conveys the speaker’s feeling and attitude. These findings indicate a defect in decoding Affective prosody (Monnot.et.al, 2002). Affective...
Words: 420 - Pages: 2
...Drinking this excessively is damaging your health. You are only 21 years old, binge drinking alcohol is not worth potentially really hurting yourself. I know you do not think your drinking has become a problem, but factually, binge drinking is defined as drinking 5 or more drinks in a row at least once in the past month. Maybe you aren't necessarily binge drinking every day, but drinking heavily is defined as consuming five or more drinks in a row on at least five occasions in the past month, which I know has been happening since you left Texas. Moving to Arizona was supposed to be a new start for you and your new career! I don’t want to see anything bad happen to you because of a stupid decision you make after you have been drinking. According...
Words: 952 - Pages: 4
...hospital for alcohol poisoning. Mr. Seaman proposes that the drinking age should be lowered to 18. Lowering the drinking age would decrease alcohol abuse in college students. As the famous quote says, what’s the fun in doing what you’re told? “There is no doubt that the law, which achieved full fifty-state compliance in 1988, saved lives, but it had the unintended consequence of creating a covert culture around alcohol as the young adult’s forbidden fruit” (180). People that cannot drink legally sometimes drink just for the thrill or as rebellion of authority. Lowering the drinking age would erase drinking alcohol as a “forbidden fruit”. Without drinking alcohol being seen as a forbidden fruit, the hype of pregaming and consuming large amounts of alcohol at one time would decrease. The thrill of breaking the law would be gone. ` Another famous saying goes around the means of “with time comes great responsibility”. “Meanwhile, we should let pregamers come out of their dorm rooms so that they can learn to handle alcohol like the adults we hope and expect them to be” (181). Most college students are at least eighteen years old and considered adults in every legal sense, except for being able to purchase and consume alcohol. Parents, teachers, and other adult influences, set children on a path to adulthood. Within the path of maturing and growing up, parents and teachers should educate their children on responsible drinking as it is a part of the adults they would...
Words: 446 - Pages: 2
...instances of irresponsible drinking by under-age and legal aged adults were false. He or she would find themselves in the minority, as well as on the wrong side of scientific study. Still, this universal truth does not justify the claims and assumptions made by Mr. Wechsler. He holds binge drinking as the possible “central focus” of fraternity life. He makes no effort to speak of the many college Fraternities & Sororities that classify themselves as “Straight Edge”; a term used by many that stands for a lifestyle of constant sobriety. Though, much of his reasoning would be supported by the mass majority Wechsler makes cynical comments such as “An incoming freshman learns during the first week of school where the alcohol and parties are and often has a huge binge drinking experience even before purchasing a text book”. It is un-founded and un-provable comments like this that causes me to loose confidence that this article was written from fact and not emotion or personal bias. Wechsler continues by criticizing the policies set by the academic institutions without providing any new methods of regulation himself. “If we know so much about the problem, why is it that we have not been able to do much about it?” This quote, in the form of a rhetorical question, made by Wechsler is a clear indicator that much of this article is based off formed opinion. Wechsler’s over all position is one that I believe many will agree with; under age drinking is a problem that must be...
Words: 384 - Pages: 2