DryOutNow.com is a leading online provider of free medical information about alcoholism and drinking. This includes free medical information, research articles and news on alcohol and drinking related addictions to help inform professionals. The glossary style articles are one of a selection of news articles, academic research papers and information articles relating to addictive behaviour, and in particular to alcohol and drinking.

What does it mean to binge drink?

To binge drink is to excessive consume alcohol excessively usually to achieve intoxication, drinking on a continuous basis over an evening or in some cases days or weeks. To binge drink indicates the consumption of more than 2/3rds bottle of wine for a woman or more than 4 pints of beer for a typical male, in a single sitting. Binge drinking may sometimes occur on-top of regular heavy drinking, or alone without intervening heavy drinking. It may be associated with the development of alcohol withdrawal symptoms in the days following completion of a binge, where the binge drinking has been very heavy for a number of consecutive days.

Is it harmful to binge drink?

To binge drink heavily can lead in the immediate term to coma, and death from respiratory failure or inhalation of vomit while unconscious. There is increasing evidence from various research studies, that to binge drink regularly increases the chances of an early death from a wide variety of causes. In particular to binge drink may increase the risk of heart attack in the day or so immediately after the binge has finished.

What can help to stop binge drinking?

Treatment for binge drinking will usually involve an assessment to see if physical withdrawal is present. If so an alcohol detox will be needed to cease alcohol use safely. Following this regular counseling with an a specialist alcohol counselor, or in severe cases admission for a period of residential rehabilitation, are likely to bring the best outcomes in terms of preventing recurrence of regular binge drinking.

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