The Quad

Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: Features

Binge drinking is a major issue that affects colleges across the nation. There are numerous effects on the body that can become deadly when the consumption of alcohol reaches dangerous levels.

To many people, binge drinking is considered to be excessive alcohol intake over a span of several days. However, researchers have suggested that five drinks per night falls under this criteria. Although most physicians find that the five-drink consumption is too generalized, the amount of alcohol consumed can affect people differently depending on many factors.

The proposed information, breaking the issue down by gender, is that women can drink four drinks over a non-specified time, technically making it binge drinking. A man can consume up to five drinks over four hours before being considered a binge drinker.

According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, since 1993 the number of college students actively involved in alcohol and substance abuse is about the same, but consumption has increased drastically.

Binge drinking is also defined as excessive drinking that interferes with normal everyday activities such as going to class, working, shopping and doing homework. An incredible hangover that continuously stops the progression of the day is the most noticeable symptom from a night of heavy drinking.

According to the Nemours Foundation, the generally accepted definition of binge drinking in the United States is the consumption of five or more drinks in a row by men - or four or more drinks in a row by women - at least once in the previous two weeks. Heavy binge drinking includes three or more such episodes in two weeks.

Realistically, participates of heavy drinking include many high school and college students and adults. Going out and partying can definitely sometimes get out of hand, and it is really hard to picture binge drinking being a factor in life. Many people will face years of drinking heavily and exist to not fully comprehend there is an issue, which can damage the body.

It is a proven fact that binge drinking can have short term effects. Sleep patterns and intelligence can be greatly impacted if drinks are consumed excessively as normal activity over a period of about two weeks.

Long periods of heavy drinking can cause major complications of the liver, heart and many other necessary organs. An over-consumption of alcohol may lead to alcohol poisoning, which many people die from each year. Others, when lucky, are rushed to the hospital and saved by processes such as stomach pumping, which, needless to say, is not fun.

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