Binge Drinking
Binge drinking is the consuming of large amounts of alcohol at one time, usually in the course of a night or over a few hours. Prime examples occur at college drinking parties, high school parties, alcohol-serving clubs and home parties. Most of the time peer pressure is involved, encouraging one to drink more than they normally would allow themselves to.
Binge drinking can also be done solo, sometimes triggered sudden loss, depression or catastrophe when one has already experienced relief from similar circumstances by taking alcohol. However, instead of helping to handle the undesired situation, drinking makes the problem worse.
In the United States 7-10% of Americans binge drink even up to age 60 according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. However, the amount of alcohol use is startlingly high for high school seniors who are below the legal drinking age. Approximately 41% of twelfth graders drank alcohol over the past month that the survey was done, with a startling 71% having drunk in their lifetime. A full 23% of high school seniors binge drink, which according to the survey, is defined as more than 5 drinks in a row.
Youth Binge Drinking
This reflects a disturbing trend of a large portion of our youth using alcohol. This can easily be a "gateway drug" meaning that it leads to further drug use. This widespread use of alcohol among teens is what makes teen driving the leading cause of death among teens.
It is no surprise that so many youth wind up in need of drug and alcohol rehabilitation by the time they are in their early 20's. Instead of going to college and starting families they are battling drug or alcohol addiction.
Peer Pressure
Peer pressure is what often entices a youth to drink. To "be cool" or fit in, they often submit to peer pressure and begin drinking. The problems most youth have to deal with can be so overwhelming for someone still developing mental and social skills that without effective role models to guide them in a survival direction they are often prone to the traps of drug and alcohol addiction. Most of the celebrity role models youth follow today glorify the use of drugs and alcohol. This advertising does have a definite impact on the choices they make.
Choosing to binge drink can result in cravings, depression and guilt, the three barriers to overcoming a drug or alcohol problem. The drug or alcohol itself plays a part in this as does the acts that surround it. Secrecy and withholding ones misbehavior can produce a significant amount of guilt to make a teen feel they have no solution except to continue on the road they choose of drug or alcohol addiction.
The Drinkers "Non-Existent" Problem
Alcoholics often have the interesting view that they don't have a drinking problem and that they can quit whenever they want. They just never seem to decide to quit. The responses that justify drinking come across usually in anger. As an observation, alcoholics tend to be angry people and do "fly off the handle" quite easily. Part of the reason for this lies in the above 3 barriers to addiction. Guilt for instance can impinge on the person quite harshly and the response to being questioned about his or her behavior can be quite moody as a result. When one has done something he or she knows to be harmful and hidden it and is later questioned about the general area, the reaction can often be quite angry or even violent.
A serious depletion of vitamins and minerals, particularly B vitamins also contributes to this moodiness of the alcoholic.
Alcoholism can start at any age. Binge drinking is a road to becoming addicted to alcohol. It makes alcohol use acceptable and provides for the person a good justification to continue drinking, in terms of "I'm just partying".
The Alcohol Addiction Solution
The result of alcohol addiction affects not only the person's own life but the lives of all he or she is associated with. The Narconon alcohol addiction program addresses the 3 barriers to addiction and fully handles each for the individual. The person can be free of cravings, is no longer depressed and learns the true cause of stress in his life and confronts those acts he has done, many of which he has pushed out of mind, using a unique method that frees the person of guilt.
The Narconon alcohol addiction program addresses the multiple factors connected with drug addiction. The Narconon New Life Detoxification program delivered at Narconon safely flushes the stored drug and alcohol toxins from the person's body and the result is a cessation of drug cravings as well as a clarity of thinking the person only knew before taking drugs or alcohol. This program has been delivered world-wide for over three decades and has proven itself as the most effective way to rid the body of stored toxins.
Another key aspect to the Narconon alcohol addiction program is the initial withdrawal program. Upon arrival at Narconon and a full medical examination, the Narconon withdrawal specialists assist the alcohol addict to withdraw from alcohol using a combination of precise nutritional supplements, and gentle physical techniques that alleviate withdrawal symptoms. The result is a remarkably smooth withdrawal all drug-free and without the usual horrible withdrawal symptoms most addicts are afraid of facing and so never come off of drugs for that reason alone.
The Narconon alcohol rehabilitation program has been in use for over 40 years. The methods are safe and effective and the success rate is over 70% and four times that of the international average. Narconon staff understand addiction and using the proven methods of the Narconon program have helped thousands off of drugs and alcohol.
Binge drinking is one step towards alcohol addiction. If you notice someone you love engaging in binge drinking contact a Narconon specialist who can provide further information on what you can do to help them.