Binge drinking raises the risk of developing a range of health problems, as well as the risk of self-harm or injuring others. Binge drinking has been shown to impair judgement and memory. Large amounts of alcohol consumed in a short period of time can be harmful to one’s health. Alcohol has a direct impact on the immune system, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and “excess alcohol use may lead to immunological insufficiency, leading increased vulnerability to certain diseases.
Binge drinking is linked to a slew of health issues. These are some of them:
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Alcohol poisoning
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Liver disease
- Colon or liver cancer
- Cancers of the mouth or esophagus
When Binge Drinking Becomes a Problem?
Binge drinking can lead to a substance abuse problem or an alcohol addiction. There is a clear problem to address when you can no longer regulate your drinking or limit yourself to a particular amount of drinks. You may have crossed the line from binge drinking to binge drinking addiction when you obsess over drinking and allow it to interfere with your regular life and duties.
Symptoms of Binge Drinking
There are a number of warning indicators to look out for if you’re binge drinking. Some of these symptoms are similar to those associated with alcoholism. The following are some of the warning signs:
- You only drink on specific days, like as weekends or days off from work, but when you do, you drink a lot of alcohol in a short amount of time.
- When you drink, you take chances that you would not normally take, and you are sometimes referred to as a daredevil. You may indulge in risky behaviours such as driving recklessly, gambling, having hazardous sex, or fighting.
- You mix prescription or over-the-counter medications with alcohol.
- When you drink, you pass out.
- Drinking disrupts other tasks and has a negative impact on others around you.
Help is available if you or a loved one is suffering from an alcohol addiction or a substance abuse issue. We have board-certified specialists on staff who can provide a number of therapeutic approaches, including individual, group, and family therapy. We provide drug and alcohol detox, residential treatment, intense outpatient therapy, and follow-up care.