How Does High-Intensity Drinking Differ from Binge Drinking?
You are here:Heavy drinking during the holidays is common. Consuming large quantities of alcoholic beverages is often associated with having fun. But, heavy drinking such as binge drinking and high-intensity drinking are not limited to special times of the year. Millions of people suffer damage to their health and ruined lives because of alcoholism.
Like most people, you are familiar with the term binge drinking, but do you know the difference between it and high-intensity drinking? If not, here are some things you need to know.
Defining Binge Drinking
Binge drinking is a pattern of alcohol consumption that involves drinking enough alcohol to bring the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08%. This translates to about five or more drinks (males) and four or more drinks (females) in two hours, according to the NIAAA.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reports that about 61.4 million people in the US reported binge drinking in the past month.
Risks of Binge Drinking
Binge drinking increases the risk of alcohol-related harm. The most common side effects include:
- Blackouts
- Unsafe sexual behavior
- STDs
- Unwanted pregnancies
- Memory problems
- Cognitive decline
- Falls, burns, drownings
- Automobile accidents
- Liver disease
- Cancer
- Overdose
- Death
More than 178,000 people die from excessive alcohol consumption each year in the US. About one-third of the deaths are attributed to binge drinking.
Defining High-Intensity Drinking
High-intensity drinking involves consuming twice the gender-specific intake of alcohol. For example, having eight or more drinks (female) and ten or more (male) on one occasion. This level of drinking is more common among young adults, especially those in college.
Surveys show that high-intensity drinking typically peaks around age 21, but it doesn’t go away. Further studies show that 70% of adults in a survey claimed they consumed six or more drinks in a recent drinking episode.
People are more likely to engage in high-intensity drinking during special occasions. This is referred to as ritualized high-intensity drinking and is more common among college students. The occasions when heavy drinking is more likely to occur include:
- Holiday drinking
- 21st birthdays
- Sporting events
- Spring break
Repeated alcohol consumption is dangerous, but with high-intensity drinking, the risks increase significantly.
Risks of High-Intensity Drinking
The risks of high-intensity drinking are the same as those of binge drinking. Many of the side effects are short-term, however, studies show serious long-term effects as well. For instance, adolescents who engage in high-intensity drinking are more likely to develop alcohol dependence later in life. Other consequences may include:
- Changes in behavior lasting into adulthood
- Disruption in brain development
- Relationship problems
- Physical violence
- Property damage
- Accidents
- Overdose
- Death
Alcohol abuse in any form not only harms the individual, but the effects often extend to harm family, friends, employers, and society. As a result of alcoholism, families are torn apart, friends are alienated, and employers suffer from lost productivity. Investing in law enforcement and incarceration deprives society of funds that could be used for more positive purposes.
Treatment for High-Intensity Drinking at Design for Change
The reasons why people drink too much are too numerous to list. Everyone has a different excuse for their drinking behavior. However, some of the most common reasons are genetic predisposition, self-medicating, mental disorders, physical health problems, relationship issues, and financial issues.
Treatment programs for alcoholism should include methodologies that treat co-occurring disorders while also addressing alcohol addiction. With this level of care, people are more likely to maintain sobriety for the long term.
At Design for Change Recovery, we seek to treat the whole person, not just their addiction. We offer a range of therapies that focus on healing the underlying causes of substance use.
We provide different levels of care to accommodate your specific needs::
- Detox
- Inpatient
- Intensive Inpatient
- Outpatient
- Intensive Outpatient
- Partial Hospitalization
- Aftercare
Our full continuum of care also includes:
- Family Therapy
- Dual-Diagnosis Treatment
- Holistic Treatment
- Medication-Assisted Treatment
- Veterans Rehab
- First Responder Wellness Programs
- Men and Women Programs
Design for Change is JCAHO-accredited and in-network with major insurance companies to ensure our clients get the high level of care they deserve. If you are ready to take control of your alcohol consumption, contact our Lancaster, CA facility to speak with a treatment advisor today. We will assess your needs and recommend a treatment path customized to your situation.
Sources:
niaaa.nih.gov – Understanding Binge Drinking
monitoringthefuture.org – High-Intensity Drinking
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – High-Intensity Drinking
niaaa.nih.gov – Study Defines Brain and Behavioral Effects of Teen Binge Drinking
