Because of the differences in male and female alcohol metabolism rates, it is possible that greater tissue injury is produced in females who consume alcohol in binge-like patterns. Furthermore, in an aging population already riddled with polypharmacy, there is heightened potential for toxicity during an alcohol binge (Figure 4). Also, pre-existing comorbid conditions such as cardiovascular disease, renal failure, or steatohepatitis may predispose binge drinkers to accelerated tissue injury. However, not all reports support the link between consuming a specific beverage type (i.e., wine vs. beer or spirits) and health benefits. Therefore, dissecting how pattern of drinking and type of alcoholic beverage contribute to overall outcomes is challenging. You’ve probably heard the term before, but what exactly is binge drinking?

Long-Term Health Effects of Binge Drinking

For more information on where to get help for problematic alcohol use, please visit the problematic substance use resource page. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can seriously harm an unborn baby. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a term used to describe a range of disabilities that can affect a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. Saying something like, “Well, that’s my one drink for the night,” might help your loved one remember their own limit.

• Binge drinking has both short- and long-term health consequences.
• People may drive recklessly, fall down stairs, start fires, or get hit by cars.
• Many experts define it as drinking enough alcohol during a 2-hour period to bring the BAC to 0.08%.
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• Excessive alcohol also affects your actions, which can increase your risk of injuries and death from motor vehicle accidents, drowning, suffocation, and other accidents.
• The CDC recommends that if you don’t already drink, you shouldn’t start for any reason.
• So what should you do if your loved one initially denies having a binge drinking problem?

How Common Is Binge Drinking?

“Typically, binge drinking would bring the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level to 0.08% or more,” says Jaffa. Contrary to popular belief, most people who drink excessively are not alcoholics. Some binge drinkers only drink once a week; others even marijuana addiction less frequently. In fact, abstaining from alcohol between sessions of excessive alcohol consumption is a key characteristic of binge drinking.

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Drinking excessively leads to performance-hindering side effects like poor sleep. “Alcohol may help you fall asleep initially but it results in very poor quality sleep overall. It prevents you from falling into REM sleep, which is the restorative, good quality sleep that we all need. It is extremely difficult to have a productive day at work after a night of poor sleep,” says Jaffa.

Our team does their best for our readers binge drinking effects to help them stay informed about vital healthcare decisions. Addiction Resource does not offer medical diagnosis, treatment, or advice. Only trained and licensed medical professionals can provide such services.

What Are the Signs of Pancreatitis from Alcohol?

From alcohol poisoning due to excessive consumption in a short time to fatal accidents caused by impaired judgment, the risks are real. With each episode of binge drinking, there is a risk that death may be the result. Regular drinking binges can also increase the risk of alcohol-related deaths. People may experience brain damage related to binge drinking, which can impair their memory and other cognitive abilities. These impairments might be noticeable by the time someone is in their 20s if they had started drinking early in life.

The 2015 study results showed Americans were consuming about seven drinks during each episode of binge drinking. And a more recent 2021 study showed that binge drinkers are more likely to also abuse other substances, such as the misuse of prescription drugs. In addition to increasing the risk of injury, binge drinking impairs the body’s ability to heal from those injuries.

• Remember that the body can metabolize and excrete approximately one unit of alcohol per hour.
• It’s all too common that problem drinking disrupts bonds with a spouse, family members, friends, coworkers, or employers.
• This coincides with rising rates of binge drinking across the country.
• That means that every person’s path to recovery must be unique as well.

Many people think of heavy drinking as part of American culture. Alcohol is available in many social situations like sporting events, happy hours, parties, and barbeques. The majority of adults in the United States drink alcohol from time to time.