The teen binge drinking trend is a term that means “binge drinking”, also known as heavy episodic drinking (CIA). It involves drinking alcohol excessively over a short period of time. It consists of consuming as much alcohol as possible in the shortest time possible. The aim is to feel the effects of this substance and get drunk.
It is an attitude typical of teenagers and young people when they go to botellones, large gatherings with the aim of drinking alcohol and getting drunk. The National Plan on Drugs has established that binge drinking is the consumption of five or more drinks for men and at least four for women within two hours. It is occasional consumption, meaning it is not a daily habit, but something sporadic that happens on weekends or public holidays.
The 14th edition of the 2021 Survey on Drug Use in Secondary Education in Spain (ESTUDES) shows that alcohol is the most widely used psychoactive substance among young people aged 14 to 18. 73.9% report having consumed alcohol at some point in their lives, 70.5% in the last year, and 53.6% in the last month. Regarding binge drinking, 27.9% report binge drinking in the last 30 days and 41.1% in the last year. At CCAdicciones, we can offer you treatment to stop drinking alcohol.
Dangers of botellón
Excessive alcohol consumption always has harmful effects on health, but in the case of teenagers the risk increases because they are still developing and may suffer permanent health damage. Alcohol intake affects consumers in the short term, causing dizziness, vomiting, difficulty speaking, poor coordination, loss of consciousness… But in the long term, it will also take its toll. Repeated consumption of large amounts of alcohol will negatively affect brain development, cause cognitive changes, learning difficulties, and the possibility of developing an alcohol addiction in the future and suffering from alcoholism.
Alcohol poisoning
The most common effect when someone drinks through binge drinking is an alcohol-induced coma. It is the most direct consequence because heavy alcohol consumption will cause alcohol poisoning. An alcohol coma occurs when the person has between 2 and 4 grams of alcohol in their blood. The ethanol content in the blood is above the levels the consumer can tolerate.
The main symptoms of alcohol poisoning are: nausea, vomiting, seizures, slow breathing, low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, low body temperature… Even if the person stops drinking, alcohol continues to be released from the stomach and intestines into the bloodstream. As a result, the alcohol level continues to rise even though no more alcohol has been consumed.
When it is detected that a person who has consumed a lot of alcohol is suffering an alcohol-induced coma, you must act quickly. You should immediately call medical professionals. The individual’s life is at stake, and the right response in this situation can literally save their life. Therefore, it is essential to call an emergency medical service.
Teenagers and alcohol
Botellón is a normalized practice that is even part of teenagers’ leisure time. But why does this excessive alcohol consumption occur at such an early age? Adolescence is a time of change, discovery, and new experiences, including the start of alcohol consumption. It is an age when they feel grown up and have the need to experience sensations that were previously unknown to them.
Binge drinking is considered a teen trend, and if “everyone does it”, younger people may feel compelled to go to the famous botellones because their friends go, with the sole aim of feeling accepted and being part of a social group. If, in the group the young person is in, drinking alcohol is part of how they have fun, drinking will be an essential requirement to fit in and be accepted. The teenager may fear not being accepted by others and being rejected. In short, peer pressure may lead them to drink alcohol because it is considered “normal”. In other cases, alcohol can be a refuge from school, family, social problems…
It could be said that teenagers not only have no perception of risk with alcohol, but they even consider that drinking alcohol has certain advantages. It is important to show that this is not the case. Abusing alcohol from a very early age can have consequences for their development and health. Excessive alcohol consumption will increase the chances of developing an alcohol addiction in adulthood.
The importance of prevention
The best option to prevent young people from joining the teen binge drinking trend is through prevention. They need to be made aware of the risks of drinking alcoholic beverages without any control. Teenagers have a low perception of risk when it comes to alcohol.
How can binge drinking be prevented? If you have children who are about to enter this complicated age, you must maintain good communication with them. Debunk false myths related to alcohol. You do not have to drink to be “cool” or accepted, and it is not a good option for socializing either. It is important that they have healthy leisure alternatives and activities that motivate them and do not involve drinking alcohol and getting drunk.
Way out of addiction
Binge drinking can end up leading to addiction. Although this term does not refer to daily alcohol consumption, if excessive alcohol consumption is repeated every weekend or public holiday, it can lead to dependence.
CCAdicciones is a detox centre for the rehabilitation and recovery of addictions with or without substances. It has a medical team made up of professionals who are experts in addictions and, thanks to their experience, can offer specific treatment to each patient according to their needs. Do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you need to regain control of your life, or if someone close to you needs help from specialists to start again and leave alcohol consumption behind.
