Binge Drinking: Causes and Effects

The sun is shining and spring is on its way. For some, the temptation to skip classes, enjoy the spring air and put a few back is very hard to resist. People are sitting on lawns, socializing around every corner you turn, playing Frisbee, and drinking during all hours of the day. Drinking for consecutive hours on end is not out of the ordinary for Plymouth State University students, and is looked forward to by many. Faculty and staff are well aware of the events that take place during springtime events and jokingly give their students advice to stay safe. Students do not seem to be fazed by the commentary and feel everyone is doing it, which most are.Binge drinking does not have a specific definition because alcohol plays different roles for different cultures. According to the sociology department at State University of New York, “in the United States, some researchers have defined bingeing as consuming five or more drinks on an occasion (an “occasion” can refer to an entire day)”. To an average person five drinks can be consumed in the duration of a simple dinner or function. Does that mean they are binge drinking? It may not seem so to some. According to bitglyph.com, “Binge drinking brings to mind a self-destructive and unrestrained drinking bout lasting for at least a couple of days during which time the heavily intoxicated drinker “drops out” by not working, ignoring responsibilities, squandering money, and engaging in other harmful behaviors such as fighting or risky sex.” This may explain the symptoms of binge drinking, but the amount of alcohol actually consumed is up for debate. Binge drinking in the United States is declining among young people. A study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse by the Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan found that “Binge drinking is also down among American college students, and it has clearly been declining for a number of years.” So why is binge drinking still a concern? Binge drinking has an ideology behind it that implies that this behavior is what college students do on a regular basis. It also makes the behavior seem completely acceptable, which keeps binge drinking ‘alive’ on campuses, even though most people don’t binge drink. Young adults have been related to binge drinking for years. Many sources feel that it stems from a young age and continues through adult hood. In some cases it may lead to alcoholism, but usually decreases in adulthood, giving young adults a bad name. The SAMHSA’s 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse found many interesting facts on binge drinking. Binge drinking, often beginning around age 13, tends to increase during adolescence, peak in young adulthood (ages 18 to 22), then gradually decrease. About 10.4 million adolescents ages twelve to twenty reported using alcohol. Of those, 5.1 million were binge drinkers and included 2.3 million heavy drinkers who binged at least five times a month.College students have been labeled as binge drinkers who will eventually become alcoholics because they love to drink. After interviewing students, many feel that it is an addition to their social time and doesn’t affect their lives as much as our society thinks. UMass is in agreement with PSU students after, “a 1996 Johns Hopkins University study concluded that binge drinking is a destructive scourge on college campuses that can lead to alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual assault and alcohol poisoning” reports theunion.com. “But in the wake of the UMass study, the Johns Hopkins researchers and others have been forced to revise their conclusions.” UMass found that binge drinking was really no different then a night on the town to most non-college students.Binge drinking is a concern, because the affects are dangerous. Alcohol poisoning, decision making, and unconsciousness can all occur due to binge drinking. These types of harmful affects can also happen from a single night of drinking. College students and other people who consume large portions of alcohol need to be careful. Bars do not always cut people off when it is needed, so friends need to watch out for each other. Spring Fling is supposed to be fun, but be careful, follow the rules and laws, and drink responsibly.