Are you wondering why do people binge drink, especially when it seems like a high-risk situation? Binge drinking is one of the most preventable, severe health conditions in the U.S. It is also the most common type of excessive alcohol use in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This organization reports that 1 in 6 U.S. adults say they binge drink at least four times a month. If you are engaging in this highly reckless behavior, our team at Bayview Recovery can help you.
Why Do People Binge Drink in the First Place?
If you find yourself consuming five or more drinks for men, or four or more drinks, as a woman in two hours, you’re binge drinking. This increases the risk of reaching a blood alcohol concentration that is 0.08 or higher. It’s essential to recognize that those who binge drink do not often develop alcohol dependency. That is, they are not drinking because of physical cravings for the substance.
If that’s the case, then why do people binge drink at all? This depends. It differs from one person to the next. Many times, it is due to the way that alcohol interacts with their brain during these episodes. In a study published by Psychology Today, there’s evidence that binge drinking occurs because of the ways that the alcohol activates your brain circuits. However, it also showed that it was possible to reduce the risk of binge drinking by finding a way to turn off these connections.
Common Reasons People Binge Drink
While there is a brain-level cause for binge drinking, many people engage in binge drinking because of exposure. Here are a few key examples of why some people do so:
- They are in a social setting that seems to encourage it.
- They feel less anxious when they get “a few drinks in.”
- They feel pressured by friends or family to drink more than they desire.
- It becomes routine after work or other events.
- They want to turn off mental health disorders and symptoms.
Binge drinking is dangerous. For those who engage in it on a routine basis, it can lead to memory loss and illness (beyond traditional hangovers). It also encourages a person to be more reckless in their behaviors. This recklessness can potentially create a scenario where they are more likely to get behind the wheel of a car or engage in unprotected sex.
It is also dangerous because it can commonly cause blackouts. These are instances where you do not remember what you did during a time period. You have cases where you don’t remember doing something. Your condition could be related to binge drinking episodes.
Are You Binge Drinking?
When you ask yourself this question, what do you think is the cause of your binge drinking? Do you like the way it helps you feel or stops you from thinking? Perhaps you do it because that’s what everyone else on your college campus does, and you don’t want to feel left out. No matter why you are doing so, it is vital to recognize what’s happening and whether alcohol rehab and treatment is beneficial to you.
Bayview Recovery can help you to manage binge drinking risks. You can manage these risks through intensive outpatient therapy or outpatient therapy for alcohol. Both programs can help you to stop using and to find yourself on a better path towards health.
Also, if you are struggling with mental illness, and covering it up with your alcohol use, you may benefit from our dual diagnosis treatment programs. We’ve designed these programs to give you the support you need to manage the underlying cause of your alcohol use. These causes may include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or bipolar disorder. Reach out to our team to learn more about how we can help you.
Are You Binge Drinking? Learn More About Help at Bayview Recovery
Whey do people binge drink in your experience? If you’re not sure what’s happening or why you may be using alcohol excessively, now is the time to get help. Bayview Recovery offers a wide range of alcohol and drug treatment programs that can address your needs. Call our counselors to learn more at 855.478.3650.
