Some Important Facts About Binge Drinking and the Adolescent Brain

Binge drinking is defined as 5 or more alcoholic drinks at one sitting for males and 4 or more alcoholic drinks at one sitting for females. It is estimated that 30-45 percent of teenagers indulge in binge drinking. This is a particularly frightening situation because research proves that binge drinking in adolescence can cause lasting damage to the brain.

In adolescents, brain cells are still growing and alcohol has a particularly toxic effect on these young cells. The areas of the brain that deal with judgment, critical thinking and memory do not reach full development until the mid-20's and alcohol abuse can permanently damages these important areas.

The part of the brain most affected by binge drinking is memory, and teens who binge now will be at high risk for memory loss and absent mindedness in the future. In laboratory tests, Rhesus monkeys who were given large amounts of alcohol showed an 80-90 percent decrease in production of memory cells. In humans, it is believed that chronic alcohol use in adolescence may alter the process of brain development during the teen years.

There are many other health problems associated with binge drinking including: liver damage, pancreatitis, certain cancers, impotence and reproductive system disorders, stomach ulcers, internal bleeding, cardiovascular disease and literal shrinkage of the brain.

Here are some more frightening statistics on binge drinking:

37 percent of eighth-grade girls have attempted suicide while binge drinking!

More than two-thirds of college kids say they have done reckless behavior such as driving drunk and having unprotected sex as a result of binge drinking!

35 percent of adult alcoholics say they began binging before the age of nineteen!

Every year more than 700,000 U.S. college students are victims of alcohol-related sexual assaults!

Alcohol poisoning is the most severe (and often fatal) reaction to binge drinking. When large amounts of alcohol are ingested, the brain is deprived of oxygen and will shut down. This lack of oxygen causes involuntary actions of the brain that regulate the gag reflex, breathing and heart rate to not work properly or stop working all together.

Vomiting, mental confusion/stupor, unconsciousness/coma, seizures, irregular breathing and heart rate and hypothermia are some symptoms of alcohol poisoning. Call for medical help immediately as this is an emergency situation and immediate medical intervention is needed before the condition becomes fatal.

IMPORTANT FACT:It is very dangerous to think that a person will be fine by 'sleeping it off'. The blood alcohol concentration can continue to rise even after he or she has passed out or stopped drinking!

Sources:

http://www.christian.org.uk/news/binge-drinking-teens-could-be-harming-their-memories/

http://www.thestate.com/2010/06/01/1307798/young-brains-more-vulnerable-to.html