What Is Binge Drinking?

There are many people who are able to drink in moderate and healthy amounts. However, there are also many people who are not. Though in some cases it constitutes an alcohol addiction, this is not always true. There are many people who do not have alcoholism that will participate in negative and dangerous drinking behaviour. One extremely common form of dangerous drinking is binge drinking.

Binge drinking is defined as consuming enough alcoholic beverages in a short period of time to accumulate a BAC of at least .08. This amount, when driving in the United States, becomes illegal, as the drinker is quite impaired in this state. The BAC stands for "blood alcohol content." This means how much alcohol is in the bloodstream? An individual with a BAC measured at .10 has a tenth of one percent of their blood's volume consisting of alcohol. This may not seem like a lot, but it is. To give you an idea, a BAC of less than .50, less than one half of one percent of volume, is considered the lethal dose of alcohol.

Many factors play into the BAC level. Averages that instruct how many drinks would reach a certain BAC are often vague, as there are so many variables. A person's weight can influence the number quite a bit. More weight and more muscle mass are able to better absorb the alcohol consumed. While the average person may be heavier, some people will be affected by less drinks, reaching a high BAC level after only a couple of drinks. Certain individuals simply have a higher or lower tolerance for alcohol than others. Also, the BAC gradually reduces over time. One of the best ways to ensure safety while drinking is to give each drink time before starting another. The time varies per drink, but it is suggested that each drink be equivalent to about an hour of drinking time.

Unfortunately, this guideline is rarely adhered to, as many drinkers are binge drinkers. Whether the individual is an alcoholic, with a disease causing them to be dependent on drinking, or simply has a habit of drinking in a dangerous manner, the situation can cause great harm. Often, people will advocate or encourage others to drink as quickly as possible, insisting that it is cool. In other circumstances, people will try to quickly consume as much alcohol as they can before heading to another establishment or event, possibly one where they can't drink. Often, individuals brag to one another about how many drinks they have consumed in one night, eliciting responses of laughter or admiration, rather than fear or concern. Our culture has a backward view of what is important and what is the healthy way to live. 

Whatever the case, it may be necessary to seek out alcohol treatment. It can be done in a residential treatment setting, or as an outpatient, while living in their own home. Either way, this process can greatly assist the drinker to see the consequences of their actions and avoid great possible dangers in the future. Binge drinking is a very serious occurrence and, if not approached in the correct way, could result in legal trouble, injury, or death. If you or someone you know is having difficulty with binge drinking, please find out more information about alcohol rehab, as it could save a life.

MTV's Buckwild Stars, Drugs and Death

Buckwild, a recently produced MTV reality show about youngsters in Sissonville, WV has seen some rough times lately. The program focused on a group of friends living in a "holler" in West Virginia and chronicled their partying and shenanigans. Get-togethers typically involved four-wheeling and late nights, and the show was a hit for MTV. Unfortunately, the stars of the show have recently had to deal with one cast member being arrested twice for drug charges and another being found dead in his automobile.

A couple months ago, 24 year-old Buckwild cast member Salwa Amin was arrested on two counts of heroin possession with intent to deliver. She was freed on a $100K bond but was recently arrested again for violating the terms of her release. She is currently incarcerated and was put back in jail on April 1^st. Heroin possession is a serious drug offense and she is potentially facing multiple felonies and prison time. In addition, having an Intent to Deliver charge adds to the whole legal mess and makes for even more severe repercussions

In other news from the Buckwild crew, cast member Shain Gandee was found dead in a vehicle with his uncle and a friend in Kanawha County, WV early Sunday morning, March 31^st, 2013. Apparently the three individuals left a bar late Saturday night at 3:00 am to go four-wheeling, a pastime that was featured highly on the MTV program. According to authorities, they responded to calls of a distressed vehicle and arrived to find the three men dead in the vehicle, which was partially submerged. The deaths were ruled as accidental, and they quoted carbon monoxide poisoning the reasoning for their death.

Although they have not officially stated whether or not alcohol was a main factor in their deaths, they were leaving a bar at 3:00 am. Gandee was only 21 years old. It is unfortunate for tragedy to fall on his family, especially when he was so young. He was known as a "magnetic personality" and he was highly featured throughout the filming of the show, which was in its first season. Although plans were in the works for a second season, MTV has not stated whether or not they will continue production of the show after this recent tragedy.

Unfortunately, drugs, alcohol and celebrities tend to go hand in hand. Not to say that every famous person has substance abuse problems with drug addiction or alcohol addiction, but history has shown that numerous celebrities have had problems with drugs and alcohol. Whether they pass away at a young age, end up in legal trouble or getting too far gone substance abuse, it is quite common for actors, musicians and other famous persons to have drug issues. Fame brings a lot of pressure, which many tend to deal with through drinking or doing drugs. And people in that position also are around a lot of substance abuse, which can negatively influence them.

If you ever saw the Buckwild show, you may remember Shain Gandee as a goofy, fun-loving personality with a passion for life, a big heart, and lots of love for his friends. It's sad to see anyone go, especially at such a young age, and especially to a person that touched so many lives. And getting locked up for drug charges is no favorable fate either. Many celebrities and members of the cast have expressed prayers, thoughts and concerns for family members and friends of individuals in the Buckwild cast. 

Alcohol Now 3rd Worldwide Leading Cause of Injury & Death

It is nothing new that alcoholism is an addiction that has the ability to destroy lives. People can become so enveloped in their alcohol addictions that they lose sight of the important things in life - family, work, school, and other responsibilities, and become wholly preoccupied with alcohol. In the United States, alcohol surpasses all other drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription painkillers as the number one drug problem in the nation. According to a recent study conducted by the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), alcohol is now the third leading cause of disease and injury worldwide.

Alcohol, Disease & Injury
Based on research gathered mainly from the 2010 Global Burden of Disease study, alcohol has been found to cause more than 200 diseases and injuries. When people think of alcohol and disease, liver problems are usually the first that come to mind. It is widely known that alcohol can cause serious liver diseases such as cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. But what many people do not realize is that alcohol affects nearly every single organ in the body. It can cause heart disease, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal problems, and several types of cancer. Researchers recently found that alcohol consumption by women can make them much more susceptible to breast cancer.

When people consume alcohol, their behavior changes. This is not true only of alcoholics, alcohol affects everyone that consumes it in different ways. Their judgment becomes impaired, and they may do certain things that they would otherwise not do if they were sober. Traffic accidents due to alcohol abuse are among the major problems of alcohol-related injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety, roughly 40 percent of all traffic deaths are due to driving under the influence. In addition to traffic-related injuries, violence and domestic abuse while people are intoxicated are also a major problem. Alcohol affects not only the person drinking it, but those around them as well.

Global Alcohol Abuse
It is estimated that around 2.5 million deaths per year are due to the harmful use of alcohol. In the age group of 15 to 29, roughly 320,000 people die each year from alcohol-related causes, which makes up about 9 percent of all deaths in that range. The global burden of alcohol is large, and it continues to grow. After high blood pressure and tobacco, it places third for disease and injury. The amount of alcohol consumed varies from region to region. Some nations drink more than others, and some engage in more reckless drinking behaviors. On average, drinkers in Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa consume the most alcohol worldwide. They drink the most, and they also engage in some of the most dangerous drinking behaviors, such as drinking in large quantities, drinking to get drunk, and binge-drinking for extended periods of time.

The figures recorded by the CAMH may even be an underestimate, considering that 30 percent of alcohol consumed around the world is unrecorded. This includes alcohol that is brewed at home and produced illegally, including moonshine operations. When alcohol is so readily accessible and socially acceptable, it is hard to not drink irresponsibly for many people. Even though only half of the world drinks alcohol, the half that does causes a large amount of disease and injury. Alcoholism is a serious disease and it causes a lot of damage. If you or someone you know has a problem with alcohol abuse, there are many different options for alcohol treatment. From support groups like AA to inpatient rehab treatment, there are programs out there to help everyone who is struggling with alcohol addiction.

DEA & NIDA Block Medical Research of Marijuana

The debate over the beneficial uses of marijuana as medicine has provoked much controversy in recent years. Many people believe that medical marijuana can be extremely effective in treating certain conditions and their symptoms, such as cancer, glaucoma, and AIDS. However, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the National Institute for Drug Abuse have made it difficult for researchers to obtain marijuana in order to conduct research by placing tight restrictions on the availability of the drug.

In the past few years, eighteen different states and Washington DC have passed medical marijuana laws, and Colorado and Washington both legalized the limited recreational use of marijuana. But federal laws have not changed, and both the DEA and NIDA have blocked substantial medical research on the issue. President Obama recently indicated that he may push for the decriminalization of the possession of marijuana under federal law however, until this occurs it may remain an obstacle for researchers to conduct studies on the subject.

Marijuana & Drug Abuse

Because extensive research on the benefits of marijuana has been blocked by the DEA and NIDA, a federal court recently determined that marijuana should remain a Schedule I drug, meaning that it has no real medical value and a high risk for drug abuse. Marijuana is a drug, and just as with any other drug it has a potential for abuse. However, when compared to other substances that are much more harmful and addictive, such as prescription painkillers, alcohol and tobacco, the use of marijuana may not be nearly as dangerous.

Prescription medications such as OxyContin, Vicodin, and Xanax are highly addictive and can cause users to overdose. But government agencies have allowed research to be conducted on these medications in order to prove their effectiveness. It is estimated that roughly 100,000 Americans die each year from prescription medication abuse. Marijuana has been proven to be non-toxic and does not lead to death from overdose.

Other legal substances like alcohol and tobacco that are used for recreational purposes lead to an additional 450,000 deaths each year, yet they still remain legal. In addition, these substances cannot be used for medical purposes. Smaller studies on marijuana, which have been supported by agencies such as the National Cancer Institute and the Institute of Medicine, have shown that marijuana can be effective as a medicine. In order to prove this on a federal level, restrictions on the drug must be loosened in order to allow for more research.

The use of marijuana can lead to drug addiction, and many individuals do go to rehab each year because of their addiction to marijuana. Just like other drugs, it has impacts on a person's brain, and it can cause them to have cravings and drug abuse issues. However, thousands of people go to rehab treatment for alcoholism, yet it still remains legal and widely accessible. Marijuana may not be beneficial for everyone, and its medical uses may be limited, but in order for the federal government to arrive at a reasonable and agreeable decision on the matter, it may be in their best interests to fund proper research on the subject. 

What is Alcohol Abuse?

Alcohol abuse differs from alcoholism but often leads to becoming addicted to alcohol. Alcohol addiction occurs when there is a physical dependency on alcohol, and a person needs to drink in order to get through the day and/or function normally. It is estimated that there are more than 12 million alcoholics in the United States. At least 6% of the American population are alcoholics.

There is no definite cause for alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction, but there are many contributing factors that are taken into account when diagnosing someone as an alcohol addict. There are certain questions that drug and alcohol treatment professionals ask people when trying to find out if someone is an alcoholic or not, but the reasons for addiction are not always the same. It has been stated that a person’s family history is a strong indicator if someone is or is not an alcoholic, and if you have at least one parent that suffers from alcohol addiction, you are more likely to suffer from the same issues.

Alcohol abuse often starts at an early age and some reasons for its occurrence include peer pressure, low self-esteem, stress, and emotional problems such as depression and anxiety. In addition, if someone is exposed to alcohol frequently and has easy access to beverages such as wine, beer or liquor, they are also more likely to develop a drinking problem. Certain lifestyles are synonymous with drug and/or alcohol abuse, such as the professions of musicians, servers and bartenders. In part, this is due to the fact that these individuals are working in an environment that is surrounded by alcohol, and they can also be stressful situations. Those who have high-stress jobs, and people who make large incomes are also more apt to drink on a regular basis.

If you drink more than 15 drinks per week, or if you drink more than 5 drinks in one sitting, this has also been linked to defining alcohol abuse. Alcoholics drink despite the negative consequences of their drinking, including problems with relationships, finances, and work. There are numerous issues that have been related to alcoholism, but the fact of the matter is that alcoholics drink simply because they drink. It can be said that high stress, genetics, and other problems can be related to cause heavy drinking, but anyone can experience these issues, and not everyone abuses alcohol.

When a person becomes physically dependent on alcohol, their body becomes so used to being intoxicated that they feel the consistent urge to drink just to function. This is known as a functionalalcoholic, and these people often work regular jobs, have successful careers and well-developed relationships, but they still drink. There is no definite way to recognize an alcoholic, and they often hide the alcohol abuse so as not affect others.

Unfortunately, alcohol is so ubiquitous in the United States and other countries that it is hard to escape, and many succumb to the temptation of abusing alcohol on a regular basis. In addition, many alcoholics continue to drink, because if they suddenly stopped, they would be subject to the many different negative effects of alcohol withdrawal, such as anxiety, irritability, insomnia, nausea and even seizures that can lead to cardiac arrest or death. There are a variety of prescription drugs that are used to treat these symptoms, such as benzodiazepines and other medications that reduce the urge to drink. If you are worried that you may be an alcoholic or abuse alcohol on a regular basis, it’s important to realize that alcoholism is a disease, and it can be treated by medical professionals. Many people suffer from this disease, and you are not alone in your struggle. There is help out there for everyone.

What is Alcohol Abuse?