Over 2,200 people each year are lost to an alcohol-related death – not because they were involved in a car wreck – but because they over-consumed alcohol. Deaths due to alcohol poisoning are a growing concern and the fact that people die each and every day because of over-drinking is a reality.
Middle Age and Older Adults Are Most Impacted
The victims of excessive drinking are most often white, adult males between the ages of 35-64 years living in New England and the western U.S. Alcohol poisoning also affects young adults but a few years of age makes the difference in a person’s ability to cope with large amounts of alcohol. For middle age and older adults, alcohol consumption affects the body more rapidly than at a younger age.
A Sudden Stop
Alcohol is a depressant. That means it suppresses and slows down body functions. The slurred words, stumbling steps and blurry vision associated with alcohol consumption are signs that the body is impaired. If a person consumes too much alcohol things like heartbeat, breathing and body temperature regulation can slow down to a complete halt. It’s called alcohol poisoning and can be deadly.
It’s easier to cross the line into excessive drinking than many people understand. Five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women in a single sitting qualify as binge drinking. More than 38 million Americans say they binge drink (usually eight drinks per sitting) several times per month.
We Can Help
If this sounds like you or someone you know, reaching out for help could save a life. Binge drinking can affect the body long term and it can lead to death. Talk to one of our mental health professionals at Family Guidance and start on the road to recovery before tragedy strikes.
