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What is High-Intensity Drinking?

What is High-Intensity Drinking?

What is High-Intensity Drinking? And how is it different from binge drinking?

Binge drinking occurs when a person drinks in a way that raises their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08% or higher. This typically occurs when men have had five or more drinks, or for women who have had four or more drinks in a two-hour period.

High-intensity drinking, on the other hand, involves consuming alcohol at levels at least twice the threshold for binge drinking which would be eight or more drinks for women and ten or more for men on a single occasion. High intensity drinking leads to significantly higher blood alcohol levels and increases the risk of severe consequences including blackouts, alcohol poisoning, ER visits, and fatalities.

 

Short-Term and Long-Term Health Risks of Binge Drinking and High Intensity Drinking

 

Short-Term Risks:

– Impaired motor skills and reaction times which can lead to accidents such as falls, drownings, and car crashes.

– Increased likelihood of risky behaviors, including unsafe sexual activity and violence.

– Alcohol poisoning, which can result in vomiting, seizures, coma, or death.

– Blackouts and memory loss.

– Acute mental health effects like depression and anxiety

 

Long-Term Risks:

– Chronic health issues such as liver disease, cardiovascular problems, and neurological damage.

– Increased risk of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD), especially among adolescents and young adults who binge drink frequently.

– Ongoing mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression.

– Social consequences like strained relationships and reduced productivity due to absenteeism or job loss

 

 Strategies to Reduce Binge and High-Intensity Drinking

 

Individual-Level Strategies:

Behavioral Interventions: Setting limits on alcohol consumption and sticking to them, alternating alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks such as sparkling water or non-alcoholic beer, eating a heavy meal including protein, carbs and fat, and avoiding environments that encourage heavy drinking (e.g. bars, night clubs, parties)

Counseling and Therapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help individuals identify patterns of harmful drinking and develop healthier coping strategies.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): Oral medications like acamprosate and disulfiram and naltrexone which is available in an oral and an injectable formulation (Vivitrol) have been shown to help people reduce or stop drinking.  Naltrexone is particularly helpful in reducing heavy drinking days by blocking the pleasurable effects of alcohol. When combined with counseling, naltrexone can reduce binge and high-intensity drinking for those working to moderate their use. Medication-assisted treatment options like naltrexone are particularly effective when integrated into broader recovery programs. Naltrexone works by reducing cravings for alcohol through its action on opioid receptors in the brain. Studies show that patients using this medication alongside counseling experience fewer heavy drinking days compared to those receiving counseling alone.

 

Community-Level Strategies:

– Public Awareness Campaigns: Educating communities about the risks of binge drinking through schools, workplaces, and media.

– Policy Interventions: Enforcing stricter regulations on alcohol sales (e.g., limiting late-night sales) and increasing taxes on alcoholic beverages to reduce consumption.

– Support Networks: Peer support groups like SMART, Moderation Management, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or community-based programs encourage accountability and provide social support.

Summary

By combining individual behavioral changes with community-based initiatives and evidence-based treatments like naltrexone we can address the complex challenges posed by binge and high-intensity drinking effectively.