You have probably heard of binge drinking, and you may have seen our blog posts about how dangerous it is. Have you heard of high-intensity drinking? At Safe Harbor Recovery Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, we offer a supportive, compassionate setting that encourages clients to develop healthier lifestyles and build sober connections. We think that it is important for people to understand the risks of this dangerous practice.
High-Intensity Drinking Goes Beyond Bingeing
Binge drinking is defined as consuming enough alcohol to raise a person’s blood alcohol content (BAC) beyond .08 percent. Typically, this means four alcoholic drinks for women and five drinks for men in a two-hour period.
High-intensity drinking involves consuming twice to three times that amount. As you might imagine, this places the person at even more heightened risk for all of the same dangers as binge drinking, including developing an alcohol use disorder in later life.
When High-Intensity Drinking Occurs
People are more likely to engage in high-intensity drinking during special occasions like spring break and holidays, including New Year’s Eve and Independence Day. Twenty-first birthdays and sporting events are also common times when people engage in high-intensity drinking.
Who Is Most at-Risk for High-Intensity Drinking?
The people who are most likely to engage in high-intensity drinking include:
- Young people – High intensity drinking is similar to heavy drinking and binge drinking, in that it is more common among younger adults and typically becomes less common with age. Ten percent of 18-20-year-olds reported consuming at least 10 or more drinks in a row in the two weeks prior to participating in one survey. These numbers peak in the early 20s and slowly taper off.
- White and native people
- Males
- Non-parents
- Unmarried people
- College students at 4-year universities
- Members of fraternities and sororities
- People with a family history of drinking problems
- Individuals with depression
- Smokers and people who use illicit drugs
- People who started drinking or using other drugs before or during high school
High-Intensity Drinking and Alcohol Overdose
High-intensity drinking places people at particularly high risk for experiencing an alcohol overdose because they are putting alcohol into their body at a rate that far exceeds their ability to process it, and even after they stop drinking, their blood alcohol content can continue to rise. Alcohol overdose limits the brain’s ability to support basic life functions, including:
- Breathing
- Heart-rate
- Temperature control
Without the ability to continue these life-sustaining processes, the body starts to shut down. Some signs of alcohol overdose are:
- Confusion
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Inability to stay awake
- Clammy skin
- Very low body temperature
- Blue-tinted or pale skin
What to Do if You Suspect Alcohol Overdose
Alcohol overdose—also known as alcohol poisoning—is a medical emergency. If you think someone is experiencing it, don’t wait. Taking quick, calm action could save their life.
Here’s what to do:
- Call 911 immediately. Tell the dispatcher what kind of alcohol the person consumed, how much they drank, and whether they took any other substances—prescription, over-the-counter, or illegal. If you know they have any medical conditions or allergies, share that information too.
- Keep them safe and in position. Stay with the person and try to keep them awake and sitting up. If they must lie down, roll them onto their side with one ear toward the ground to prevent choking.
- Help prevent choking. If they are vomiting, gently guide them to lean forward or keep them on their side so they don’t aspirate vomit into their lungs.
- Do NOT try dangerous “sobering” methods. Never put the person in a cold shower, make them drink coffee, try to walk it off, or leave them alone. These actions can make things worse, and some could be deadly.
Alcohol overdose can slow breathing, lower body temperature, cause seizures, and lead to unconsciousness or death. Don’t assume they’ll “sleep it off.” If you’re unsure, always err on the side of caution and call for help.
At Safe Harbor Recovery Center, we offer residential, partial-hospitalization, and intensive outpatient levels of care for people who are struggling with substance use disorders. This includes treatment for alcohol use disorder and substance use disorders with coinciding mental health diagnoses. Our services include medically supervised detox, individual and group therapy, relapse prevention, mindfulness, fitness programs, family support, and aftercare.