There is a difference between an alcoholic and a binge drinker. Let’s take a closer look.
Alcohol problems come up when you lose control over your drinking. This lack of control is one of the factors that constitute and an alcohol use disorder or alcohol addiction. However, a binge drinker is not necessarily an alcohol addict, but an alcohol addict can be a binge drinker.
However, there are many people that mistake alcoholism with binge drinking. Let’s take a look why the two are different and what help you can get if you find you or your loved one has a real alcohol addiction.
What is Binge Drinking?
Binge drinking is when a person drinks a lot of alcohol within just a short timeframe. A good example is at a party, when you and your friends drink a lot, like 5 or more bottles, just within a couple of hours. You don’t drink frequently, but in cases like this, you find yourself drinking a lot. You can call yourself a binge drinker.
Being a binge drinker in this case can significantly spike up the alcohol level in your blood, which can cause alcohol poisoning. However, you don’t have to drink a lot regularly to be called a binge drinker. Anyone who drinks a lot within a short amount of time can be called a binge drinker.
A binge drinker is typically at high risk for:
- alcohol poisoning
- significant decrease in inhibition resulting to reckless behavior
- alcohol-related accidents and injuries
- clouded judgement resulting to problems such as unprotected sex, pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases
- black outs
- temporary amnesia
What is an Alcoholic?
An alcoholic is someone who has an alcohol dependency. This means they may be addicted to alcohol because they can’t go a day without it. An alcoholic has cravings and will drink even if it has negative effects on them.
An alcoholic can be characterized by frequent drinking. There are those who drink every day, making it habitual and very difficult to stop.
An alcoholic is at a high risk for:
- liver disease
- heart disease
- diabetes
- malnutrition
- cancer
- mental disorders such as depression
- addiction
A binge drinker may need intervention, as this behavior can lead to many negative effects. It can also lead to alcoholism.
Meanwhile, alcoholism needs to be treated, as it can lead to many health and safety risks.
For help with alcoholism and alcohol addiction, call or text us at Bridges of Hope: 09175098826.
Recent Comments