APRIL IS ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH

Since 1987, the month of April has been recognized as Alcohol Awareness Month in an effort to curb excessive alcohol consumption and educate the public on the health consequences of drinking.

Many alcohol awareness programs during this month also seek to reduce the stigmatization of those suffering from alcohol use disorder, or alcoholism.

Alcohol abuse is prevalent in the United States and includes the practice of binge drinking. Binge drinking refers to drinking enough alcohol within a short amount of time to bring blood alcohol concentration to 0.08%.

For women, this occurs after approximately four drinks within two hours. For men, it’s five drinks within two hours. According to a 2021 national survey, nearly 60 million Americans reported binge drinking within the previous month.

According to the survey, rates of binge drinking are increasing among older adults and decreasing in younger adults. Still, approximately 27% of college students in the survey reported binge drinking the previous month.

How does frequent binge drinking affect your health? In the short-term, binge drinking can lead to alcohol overdose, which can be fatal.

Some of the signs of alcohol overdose include confusion, vomiting, loss of consciousness, slowed breathing and low body temperature.

If you witness someone exhibiting these signs after drinking, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends calling 911 immediately.

While waiting for medical help, you should stay by the person’s side and roll them on their side if they are unconscious. This can save someone’s life by preventing them from choking on vomit.

The long-term consequences of regular binge drinking include a weakened immune system, liver disease, increased risk of various cancers and impaired cognitive function.

Teenagers, in particular, can suffer from memory and attention issues from excessive drinking while their brains are still developing.

Binge drinking is also associated with car crashes, homicide, sexual assault and sexually transmitted diseases.

Research has found that most sexual assaults on college campuses involve alcohol or some substance.

Additionally, a national survey found that college students who binge drank regularly performed worse academically and missed more classes compared to college students who did not binge drink.

Furthermore, in 2010, excessive drinking was estimated to cost the U.S. approximately $249 billion from reduced productivity, health care and other expenses.

Binge drinking can also lead to alcohol use disorder, which is a medical condition that involves the inability to stop alcohol use despite detrimental consequences in one’s life.

Mayo Clinic suggests that if your alcohol use is causing significant problems in your daily life, then you may be suffering from alcohol use disorder. The 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 13% of college students were likely suffering from alcohol use disorder in the past year.

If you are struggling with alcohol use, consider reaching out to your doctor or the counseling services at UA Little Rock.

Enrolled students at UA Little Rock are eligible for 10 counseling sessions per year, and your counselor can help connect you to additional substance use resources in the community.

BY AHAD NADEEM