Binge drinking can do some serious damage to your brain, according to a mini review published in Frontiers in Psychology.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to 0.08 g/dL. This typically occurs after 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men — in about two hours, notes the NIAAA.
Researchers found that this type of heavy drinking among young adults can lead to a thinning or reduction of areas of the brain that impact:
- Inhibition
- Memory
- Verbal learning
- Decision making and reward processing
- Alcohol cue reactivity
- Socio-cognitive/socio-emotional processing
What’s more, "these brain alterations, as a result of heavy alcohol use during adolescence and young adulthood, could result in increased risk of developing an alcohol use disorder later on in life,” said study author Anita Cservenka, Assistant Professor at Oregon State University.
More Side Effects of Binge Drinking
Binge drinking can result in serious health, safety and academic risks. Binge drinkers who consumed alcohol at least 3 times per week were roughly 6 times more likely than those who drank but never binged to perform poorly on a test or project as a result of drinking, according to the NIAAA. Over time, frequent binge drinking can also cause damage to the liver and other organs.
Other consequences of binge drinking include a higher risk of:
- Alcohol use disorders
- Car crashes
- Drunk-driving arrests
- Sexual assaults and unsafe sex
- Suicide attempts
- Injuries
Stopping the Side Effects of Alcohol Abuse
The best way to combat the physical and emotional health consequences of a substance use disorder is early intervention. Don’t wait. If you or someone you love has a drinking problem, Hope Academy can help you get the help you need today. To learn more about our young adult alcohol rehab, call toll-free today: 866-930-4673.
