Binge Drinking: The Culture Of Excess Leads in the USA - Essay Example

The Culture Of Excess Leads To Addiction And Dependency A Case Study on Binge Drinking The literal meaning of the word 'binge' means to splurge orgo on a spree. The context of 'binging' could refer to any aspect of consumption. Binging or unlimited consumption could manifest in the form of over eating, drinking, smoking, drugs or abuse of any other substance. Binging generally starts as an unconscious act to do something different and perceived as "fun". Curiosity or boredom could lead teenagers and young adults to experiment with alcohol. Slowly, the same could become a habit and an obsession. Social drinking could also be one of the triggers for binge drinking. In some societies, binge drinking often happens in groups. So, what starts as a challenge or a competition to get intoxicated, could very well be carried over to the next few days and ultimately lead to addiction and dependency. With time, the definition and reasons for binge drinking too have altered a little. According to www.kidshealth.com, while earlier binge drinking used to mean heavy drinking over many days, now it means excess consumption of alcohol over a short period of time. There are various yardsticks to measure if the consumption qualifies as normal drinking or is above the permissible limits. Different countries have different definitions of binge drinking. While in the U.S, it could mean consumption of five or more drinks in a row by men and consumption of four or more drinks by women, in the U.K, in other countries, it is defined as 'multi-day heavy drinking session during which the drinker neglects his responsibilities or otherwise behaves recklessly (International Center for Alcohol Policies ). According to Buddy.T, (www.About.com: Alcoholism), there has been a lot of research in this field and British researchers have come up with various classifications of these heavy drinkers to help overcome this problem at all levels. A sum of nearly $5 billion is spent every year by the British National Health Service under healthcare expenses to cater to alcohol related illnesses. The researchers have identified nine types of heavy drinkers based on the socio-psychological causes that lead to heavy drinking. The Culture of Excess Leads to Addiction and Dependency While the developing nations too face the problem of alcoholism and binge drinking among their population, it is the developed nations where the problem is growing by huge proportions. The culture of excess: excess in the form of excess pocket money or financial reserves, excess exposure and excess stress in the form of social acceptance lay the foundation for addiction and dependency. A culture driven by the fast-changing social norms, crumbling social values and unstable family backgrounds prompt the young adults in the developed world to take to alcohol at an early age. While in most countries people are considered adults by the age of eighteen, the habit of drinking generally starts by the age of fifteen or sixteen. An orthodox family and social background might be helpful in curbing or completely avoiding the problem to a great extent. The case of developing nations might be slightly different. Where the parents are hardly able to make both ends meet, there might not be anything left to splurge on the children, especially teenagers, after catering to the basic necessities of life. So, in a way, the social evil is avoided. While binge drinking might not be completely absent, the incidence of the same among teenagers and young adults might be less in these countries. According to DRUG REHABS.ORG, a part of a non-profit social betterment organization, available at http://www.drug-rehabs.org/binge-drinking.htm [13th March, 2009], 'Nearly 14 million people in the United States, 1 in every 13 adults, engage in binge drinking or are considered alcoholics. However, more men than women are alcohol dependent or experience alcohol-related problems. In addition, rates of alcohol problems are highest among young adults ages 18-29 and lowest among adults 65 years and older. Among major U.S. ethnic groups, rates of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems vary.' Kropp et al (1999) concluded that values and susceptibility to interpersonal influence can play a useful role as descriptors, and possibly as predictors, of drinking and smoking behavior.A study among smokers and beer-drinkers and ono smokers and non-smokers showed that smokers are less likely to give importance to personal values like a sense of belonging and security and being respected in society. In the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, Eckersley (2008) feels that trends in suicide, mental disorders, drug abuse and crime suggest western industrial societies are becoming increasingly harmful to psychological and social well-being. He feels that the contribution of modern western culture to other societies, especially the youth, has had a detrimental effect on them as it has failed to provide the fundamental requirement of a sense of belonging and purpose. Celebration seems to be one of the triggers for binge drinking. Celebrating a weekend, celebrating a victory in a soccer match or simple celebrating life seem to be the culture followed in the western societies. This suggests a culture of excess. Where there is excess money, excess temptations and offers by alcohol companies, youth find it hard to resist the group pressure and give in to binge drinking. United Kingdom The problem of binge drinking seems to be rising rapidly and getting completely out of hand in the United Kingdom. According to a special report by Mail Online, dated March 18th, U.K was voted as Europe's heaviest alcohol consumers. The report also concluded that one in four adults in the United Kingdom was a binge drinker. BBC reported that 20 billion was the estimated cost of binge drinking in Britain in 2003!!As the media too had been creating awareness about this social evil, the government introduced the Licensing Act in 2005, which allowed bars to be open throughout the night. The logic was since earlier bars closed down before midnight, customers would be prone to 'hurried consumption' of alcohol, which would lead to binging. Binge drinking has been known to lead to anti-social behaviour among young adults. However, it is not very easy to tackle the problem as drinking is not looked upon as a social evil in Britain, but a socially accepted practice. U.S The 'legal drinking age' specified by the U.S. government is 21 years. Yet, binge drinking is a common phenomenon among college students in the U.S. While earlier studies suggest that 44% college students indulged in binge drinking (Henry Wechsler,1999) recent studies suggest that 42% of students in the age group of 18-25 indulged in this activity once a month. In the age group of 16-17 year olds, 20% students were reported to indulge in binge drinking and 19% of those over age 35 years indulged in the same (National Findings, SAMHSA,2007).Yet, the problem does not seem to have assumed the magnitude that it has done in the U.K. Australia In Australia, the legal drinking age is 18, yet binge drinking seems to be prevalent from the early age of 12 years.Binge drinking is common in many Australian communities.The definition of binge drinking also seems to be slightly different when compared to the U.K.It is defines as drinking more than 7 standard Australian drinks per occasion for males and 5 or more for females. According to the reports from the National Health Survey, in 2004-2005, 48% males and 30% females aboe the age of 18 indulged in binge drinking. Keeping in mind the high incidence of bine drinking especially in the student community The Australian Medical Association redefined binge drinking as four Australian drinks a night on June 15th, 2008. A whopping sum of $AUD 53 million has been earmarked for the campaign against binge drinking. . Ill Effects of Binge Drinking: A study by Yvonne Bonomo et al, to determine whether adolescent alcohol use and/or other adolescent health risk behaviour predisposes to alcohol dependence in young adulthood found that 'teenage drinking patterns and other health risk behaviours in adolescence predicted alcohol dependence in adulthood. Prevention and early intervention initiatives to reduce longer-term alcohol-related harm therefore need to address the factors, including alcohol supply, that influence teenage consumption and in particular high-risk drinking patterns.' Excess and continuous consumption of alcohol can not only curb one's physical and mental capacities, it can also have an adverse affect on the person's psychological make-up and social well-being. It is said to be the second leading cause of dementia (Professor Georgy Bakalkin (8 July 2008). 'A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, compared binge drinkers (called early peak drinkers) with those who began drinking alcohol later in life and maintained a moderate drinking pattern (stable drinkers).The study found that even if early peak drinkers tried to curtail their dependency and addiction on alcohol, they would suffer more health hazards as compared to stable drinkers.' References: 1.Buddy.T http://alcoholism.about.com/b/2008/09/24/nine-types-of-binge-drinkers-identified.htm, 13th March,2009. 2. Binge Drinking, http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/alcohol/binge_drink.html, 13th March,2009 3. Binge Drinking: Key Facts and Issues http://www.icap.org/PolicyIssues/BingeDrinking/KeyFactsandIssues/tabid/196/Default.aspx 4. http://alcoholism.about.com/od/about/a/alcoholism.htm 5. Professor Georgy Bakalkin "Alcoholism-associated molecular adaptations in brain neurocognitive circuits". eurekalert.org. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/econ-ma070808.php. Retrieved on 14 February 2009. 6. Long Term Effects of Binge Drinking, http://www.drugrehabtreatment.com/effects-of-binge-drinking.html 7. Addiction and dependency - Health - Homepage - Connexions Direct https://www.connexions-direct.com/index.cfmpid=100 8. Bonomo, Yvonne A.1; Bowes, Glenn2; Coffey, Carolyn1; Carlin, John B.3; Patton, George C.1 Teenage drinking and the onset of alcohol dependence: a cohort study over seven years http://pt.wkhealth.com/pt/re/addi/abstract.00008514-200412000-00009.htm;jsessionid=JBJZB4G5KlYLGNFzDgh3VrQLvnzBLJhnspvzsG9b2Xv4lVgtYpz3!1389757296!181195629!8091!-1 9. Mail Online,18th March,2009. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-302531/Special-report-Binge-drinking.html 10. BBC Binge drinking costing billions 19 September 2003 11. ^ http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/cas/Documents/cont_problem/rpt2000.pdf College Binge Drinking in the 1990s: A Continuing Problem Results of the Harvard School of Public Health 1999 College Alcohol Study Henry Wechsler, PhD, et al. 12. ^ http://oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k7NSDUH/2k7results.cfm#Ch3 Results from the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, SAMHSA 13. http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4832.0.55.001/ Alcohol Consumption in Australia: A Snapshot, 2004-05 14. Kropp,Lavak,Holden ,Smokers and beer drinkers: values and consumer susceptibility to interpersonal influence,,Journal of Consumer Marketing, http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/07363769910297498 15. AU: R. ECKERSLEY : Failing a generation: The impact of culture on the health and well-being of youth Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health,VL: 29,NO: s1 http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121363555/abstractCRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 16.Jeffries Stuart, Excess All Areas,23rd October,2007,The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/oct/23/drugsandalcohol Read More