What Is Binge Drinking?
Binge drinking is consuming substantial amounts of alcohol in a single sitting. When you hear the phrase “binge drinking,” you might think of a bunch of college students at a party or a group of young adults at a bar giggling at shots and other alcoholic beverages. While this is a popular example of binge drinking, you can do it at home, at a cocktail party, or at a business event as well.Individuals who binge drink consume five or more drinks in a two-hour period.
Binge drinking occurs when alcohol concentration in blood (BAC) rises to 0.08 percent or higher after abusing alcohol. Alcohol consumption in a short amount of time causes your blood alcohol level (BAC) to rise because your organs cannot eliminate it completely. Another way to put it is that binge drinking is when you become inebriated within a short period of time, typically under two hours, depending on your size, age, and how much alcohol you consume.
What Is Alcoholism?
Alcoholism is the most severe form of alcohol abuse. AUD, or alcohol use disorder, is another term for alcoholism. Having an alcohol use disorder means that you have become dependent on alcohol. As another way of putting it, you feel that you can’t function without it. Your cravings for alcohol have become so intense that you are unable to control how much or how often you drink. Trying to give up drinking may not work for you.Alcohol addiction feels like an unbreakable habit. You probably drink every day if you are addicted to alcohol. An alcohol use disorder does not appear after a single session of heavy drinking, unlike binge drinking, which can occur only once. A person with alcoholism engages in compulsive, alcohol-fueledbehavior.
Two Key Differences Between Alcoholism and Binge Drinking
1. Alcohol Drinking Frequency
Behavioral health experts examine how frequently a person drinks to determine whether they are experiencing binge drinking or alcoholism. There is often an extended period of abstinence between binge drinks. On the other hand, alcoholics rarely abstain from drinking for long periods of time. Alcoholics who are highly functioning usually have a drinking routine. Drinking is their habit and they strive to maintain it no matter what, whether it’s right after work, before dinner, or late at night.
2. Treatment
Several short one-on-one treatment sessions followed by a step-by-step treatment plan are usually enough to cure most binge drinking habits, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. In contrast, medical detox followed by professional alcohol rehabilitation is the most efficient method of curing alcoholism. Alcoholism cannot be effectively treated with the short, brief interventions that can assist a binge drinker make a long-term transformation.
Acquire Effective and Compassionate Alcohol Addiction Treatment.
Taylor Recovery Center helps you regain control over your impulses and rebuild elements of your life damaged by alcohol addiction. With the help of our alcohol treatment programs, you can learn to live without relying on alcohol. From our knowledgeable staff, you can expect compassionate, comprehensive, and effective care.You don’t have to let alcohol control your life. Call us today if you or someone you care about needs a treatment center that is dedicated to helping you or them on the path to long-term recovery.
