Binge drinking” is an expression that means ” binge of alcohol ” or ” drink to get drunk,” is taking 5 or more alcoholic drinks in a very short time interval (approximately 2-3 hours). The phenomenon results in an immediate intoxication, with loss of control.
Binge drinking is an expression of a youth fashion, particularly widespread among 18-24 year olds. Furthermore, this drinking pattern can be associated with the committing of crime, violent behavior and suicide attempts.
In any case, this habit is considered one of the major current health problems both for the lowering of the perception of risk related to intoxication , and for the consequences of acute alcoholic intoxication that result.
Taking too much alcohol in a short period of time (30 minutes to several hours) results in acute intoxication.
Initially, binge drinking results in a depression of central nervous system activity , decreasing anxiety , tension and behavioral inhibitions. At the same time, however, attention and the capacity for judgment and concentration decrease.
Binge drinking also causes memory disturbances, motor incoordination, dizziness , nystagmus , mood swings, and slowing of perceptions. The gait becomes uncertain and the speech awkward.
Other effects of binge drinking include hypotension , hypoglycemia, and loss of consciousness. Severe intoxication can lead to an ethyl coma and death from respiratory arrest.
When a habit is frequent, binge drinking can cause adverse effects on the various systems of the human body, such as neurological, cardiac, gastrointestinal, blood, endocrine and muscle – skeletal . In particular, it can induce long-term cognitive impairment and is associated with an increased risk of ischemia and cerebral hemorrhages .
The strategy to combat binge drinking involves the dissemination of warnings addressed to the public opinion and information on the potential risks of the phenomenon. In addition, the development of educational programs and specialist assistance can be effective.
Most common symptoms and signs *
- Aggression
- Anemia
- Arrhythmia
- Asthenia
- Heartbeat
- Coma
- Conati
- Convulsions
- Difficulty concentrating
- Language difficulties
- Dysphoria
- Dehydration
- Temporal and spatial disorientation
- Mood disturbances
- Hepatitis
- Hypoesthesia
- Hypoglycemia
- Hypotension
- Nausea
- Nervousness
- Nystagmus
- Loss of memory
- Loss of coordination of movements
- Presyncope
- Drowsiness
- Confusional state
- Sweating
- Fainting
- Tachycardia
- Tremors
- Dizziness
- Double vision
- Blurred vision
- He retched
* Symptoms highlighted in bold are typical, but not exclusive, of binge drinking disorder
