Binge drinking

Binge drinking
An early 20th-century postcard New Year hangover
SpecialtyToxicology, psychiatry

Binge drinking, or heavy episodic drinking, is drinking alcoholic beverages with an intention of becoming intoxicated by heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time, but definitions (see below) vary considerably.[1]

Binge drinking is a style of drinking that is popular in several countries worldwide, and overlaps somewhat with social drinking since it is often done in groups. The degree of intoxication however, varies between and within various cultures that engage in this practice. A binge on alcohol can occur over hours, last up to several days, or in the event of extended abuse, even weeks. Due to the long term effects of alcohol abuse, binge drinking is considered to be a major public health issue.[2]

Binge drinking is more common in males, during adolescence and young adulthood. Heavy regular binge drinking is associated with adverse effects on neurologic, cardiac, gastrointestinal, hematologic, immune, and musculoskeletal organ systems as well as increasing the risk of alcohol induced psychiatric disorders.[3][4] A US-based review of literature found that up to one-third of adolescents binge-drink, with 6% reaching the threshold of having an alcohol-related substance use disorder.[5] Approximately one in 25 women binge-drinks during pregnancy, which can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.[6] Binge drinking during adolescence is associated with traffic accidents and other types of accidents, violent behavior as well as suicide. The more often a child or adolescent binge drinks and the younger they are the more likely that they will develop an alcohol use disorder including alcoholism. A large number of adolescents who binge-drink also consume other psychotropic substances.[7]

Frequent binge drinking can lead to brain damage faster and more severe than chronic drinking (alcoholism). The neurotoxic insults are due to very large amounts of glutamate which are released and overstimulate the brain as a binge finishes. This results in excitotoxicity, a process which damages or kills neurons (brain cells).[8] Each binge drinking episode immediately insults the brain; repeat episodes result in accumulating harm. The developing adolescent brain is thought to be particularly susceptible to the neurotoxic effects of binge drinking, with some evidence of brain damage occurring from drinking more than 10 or 11 drinks once or twice per month.[9] A 2020 study found that even a single episode of binge drinking can lead to atrophy of the brain's corpus callosum, from which damage was still detectable by an MRI scanner five weeks later.[10] With prolonged abstinence neurogenesis occurs which can potentially reverse the damage from alcohol abuse.[11]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Renaud-2001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mathurin-2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Standridge, JB.; Zylstra, RG.; Adams, SM. (July 2004). "Alcohol consumption: an overview of benefits and risks". South Med J. 97 (7): 664–72. doi:10.1097/00007611-200407000-00012. PMID 15301124. S2CID 26801239.
  4. ^ Kuntsche, E.; Rehm, J.; Gmel, G. (July 2004). "Characteristics of binge drinkers in Europe". Soc Sci Med. 59 (1): 113–27. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2003.10.009. PMID 15087148.
  5. ^ Clark, DB.; Bukstein, O.; Cornelius, J. (2002). "Alcohol use disorders in adolescents: epidemiology, diagnosis, psychosocial interventions, and pharmacological treatment". Paediatr Drugs. 4 (8): 493–502. doi:10.2165/00128072-200204080-00002. PMID 12126453. S2CID 30900197.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Floyd-2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Stolle-2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference pmid19155229 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference tdmcibd was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Heingartner, Douglas (25 September 2020). "New study shows that binge drinking – even once – can do serious harm to your brain". PsychNewsDaily. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  11. ^ Crews FT, Boettiger CA (September 2009). "Impulsivity, frontal lobes and risk for addiction". Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 93 (3): 237–47. doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2009.04.018. PMC 2730661. PMID 19410598.