The Benefits Of Binge Drinking

Since 1997, binge drinking has increased each year (Wechsler, Lee, & Kuo. 2010). Binge drinking is no stranger to San Jose State University as well as college campuses nationwide (Police Department, n.d.). Binge drinking has been on epidemic on college campuses and continues to grow over the course of time with alarming numbers of incidents that occur while under the influence. Since binge drinking is common on most college campuses, about 60% of students nationwide have stated that they have binge drank during their college years (College Drinking Fact Sheet, 2015).

“According to the CDC, about 90% of all teen alcohol consumption occurs in the form of Binge Drinking, which experts say peaks at the age of nineteen.” (qtd by Listfield). Binge Drinking is the consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. The author, Emily Listfield, defines that the standard alcohol consumption over a two hour period is considered to be four beers for women and five beers for men. This has become a great distraction for college students nationwide and a major dilemma on college campuses. Nearly two hundred thousand students visit emergency rooms each year due to the abuse of alcohol, and more than one thousand seven hundred students die. In the article “ The Underage Drinking Epidemic”, Listfield identifies the problems that underage drinking can cause, the dangers that could happen, and four solutions on what parents can do to keep their kids from binge drinking.

What do failing grades, frequent memory lapses, fights, brutal hangovers and unplanned sexual activity all have in common? They are all frequent results of binge drinking by college students. On a typical Friday or Saturday night you can find the average college student out drinking and having fun. Normally partying with friends at a party, bar, or club; most of these college students are underage consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, or as its better known, “binge drinking.”The term binge drinking is defined as the consumption of five or more drinks in a row by men and four or more drinks in a row by women, at least once in a two week period. “One” drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 4 ounces of wine, or one shot of liquor. Alcohol

January 20, Erica Bushick, 18, was found dead in her dorm room at Miami University in Ohio. Erica and her friend begin drinking at 10:00 PM on January 19. The two young ladies consumed two champagne bottles and vodka. Ericka had to be carried to her room by the cab driver due to her being unable to walk because she was too intoxicated. Erica roommate took pictures of her while she was sleep and posted them on social media at 1:00 AM. The next morning Erica was found cold and still lying, so the roommate called the police. The police department then came to the scene and pronounce Erica dead at 9:00 AM. (Hammil, 2017).

Alcohol abuse is growing rapidly throughout U.S. society. One in every twelve adults is being diagnosed with alcohol abuse (Barlow and Durand, 2006). All that are diagnosed with alcohol abuse must meet one or more of the following criteria within a twelve month period: he/ she must fail to accomplish major work, school or home

A man or a woman suffers, they have a distinct physical desire to consume alcohol beyond their capacity to control it, regardless of all rules of common sense. The symtoms of being an alcoholic is having rituals and being irritated/annoyed when these rituals are disturbed or commented on. This could be drinks before/during/after meals or after work. Dropping hobbies and activities the person used to enjoy; losing interest in them. A person who abuses alcohol may have many of these signs and symtoms- but they do not have the withdrawal symtoms like an alcoholic does, nor the same degree of compulsion to drink. Then comes along, binge drinking. When a woman consumes over six units and a man consumes more than eight units of alcohol in one sitting. Sipping wine, beer, or spirits three or four times per week increases the risk of binge drinking. Men who drink 22 or more units of alcohol a week have a 20% higher rate of admissions into acute care hospitals than non-drinkers. Healthy young adults who regularly binge drink may have a higher risk of heart disease later in life. "Underage drinking should not be a normal part of growing up. It's a serious and persistent public health problem that puts our young people and our communities in danger. Even though drinking is often glamorized, the truth is that

Improper use of alcohol may cause one to be in denial or unwilling to face their tragic reality, and may present unique challenges in trying to cope with loss.

Binge drinking is one of the third most preventable causing deaths in the United States (McGinnis & Foege, 1993). At the micro level most teens do it to seek acceptance from within their group of peers and we also undergo peer pressure and think they need to drink to be able to be accepted and then at the mid-range level most college males students drink to seek their masculinity from within a friend group. Then once at the macro level different countries with different culture values may drink alcohol more than others even though they may drink more there still is a chance that someone may develop alcoholism.Such things as symbolic interactionism, conflict, and functionalist perspective are all associated with binge drinking

“Binge drinking means drinking so much within about 2 hours that blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels reach 0.08g/dl.” As the CDC reports “One in six U.S. adults binge drinks about four times a month, consuming about eight drinks per binge” . Alcohol companies continue to make money from U.S adults who are dependent on alcohol for social interaction. The CDC also informs us that “The prevalence of binge drinking among men is twice the prevalence among women” it might be due to the fact the men are influenced by their peers who are more likely to drinking publicly as opposed to women who are more reserved.

I understand that, at least for me at the time, drinking was a way of connecting with friends, to socialize with strangers, and to alleviate the shyness. But in hindsight, I noticed there was a change from wanting to needing a drink.  It was a way to deal with the tree of work and life itself. Years later now my wife and son are in the picture, I do my best not drink "that much" at home, but still finding a myriad of excuses to do so.

Drinking can cause a person to have a complete personality change and become violent or hostile after drinking. They may also become irritable or panicky during times when a drink is expected. An alcoholic may drink to the point of black out; this is where they don’t remember what they’ve done or said that happened during a bout of drinking. A definite red flag for alcoholism is when a person has to have to drink in the morning when they first wake up.

Another reason why I resort to binge drinking is due to financial concerns, and college. Working weekends at a barbershop and attending college is stressful due when trying to make a living cutting hair. Being a female barber, men assume that I do not know how to cut men's hair. I constantly have to prove to people with my hair-cutting skills. In the summertime, the barbershop is slow while the Fresno State students return home for their summer vacation. Most of the clients that are regulars at the barbershop I work at are usually Fresno State students. In fact, I have a few clients though I need to build up a steady clientele that gets a haircut weekly. However, trying to manage my time with college, work, and homework can be challenging.

Relaxation, celebrating, and socializing are often reasons people engage in alcohol. However, the enjoyment of alcohol in moderation may become difficult for some individuals to manage when using alcohol as coping mechanisms or scapegoat, for other underlining issues: personal, social and work-related concerns. Unfortunately, lack of proper management may or can result into alcoholism. According to the DSM-V alcoholism is diagnosed as alcohol use disorder or alcohol addiction, in which a person becomes physically and psychologically dependent on alcohol to the point that he or she cannot function without it (American Psychiatric Association,2013).

Alcohol dependence is known to be the most severe form of alcohol abuse. A person becomes so dependent on alcohol consumption that he/she loses sight of all the other important things going on around him/her. Family matters and social responsibilities become secondary worries to his/her primary concern for existence, which is drinking (Stephens, 2007). Nearly fourteen million Americans are somewhat dependent on alcohol. Alcohol dependence is more prominent in men, and young adults ages 18-29 (Stephens, 2007). According to a study done by Saitz “85,000 deaths, along with substantial disability from medical and psychiatric consequences, injuries and “secondhand” effects (ex: motor vehicle crashes) are attributed to the use of alcohol” (Saitz, 2005).

I was in the band in college and my sections drank and smoked a lot. There are many people that I went to school with that started smoking and drinking because they were pressured by their friends. I was one of the people that was pressed to drinking alcohol. I turned to drinking alcohol when things went south with one of my best friends. Also during that time I continued to have father issues, and I was doing an internship that was not going well. So I turned to alcohol as a way to help me get through my problems. I later discovered that drinking did not help with the issues that I was having; it only made it worse. Later on I got kicked out of my internship because of my alcohol abuse and went back to school to finish my