Teenage Binge Drinking What is Binge Drinking An

Teenage Binge Drinking

What is Binge Drinking? �An intake of an excessive amount of alcohol at one time or drinking continuously over a number of days or weeks

Why do people binge drink? �By mistake – gradually drinking too much during the course of an event �Peer pressure �To cope with anxiety or awkwardness �Habit or pattern of behaviour that has developed over time

Short Term Effects of Binge Drinking �Hangovers �Nausea �Shakiness �Vomiting and memory loss �Injury to yourself �Alcoholic poisoning �Feelings of remorse �Loss of control

Long Term Effects of Binge Drinking �Physical and psychological dependence �Significant damage to vital organs �Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and oesophagus

�Increased risk of neurological disorders, heart problems and sexual problems �Risk of developing depression and anxiety �Problems with work, school and relationships

Facts and Statistics �The 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey - First Results, April 2008 reported that: The 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey - First Results, April 2008 reports that: The proportion of teenagers drinking at least weekly was around 22%. One in 17 (5. 7%) admitted to verbally abusing someone while under the influence of alcohol.

Alcohol Related Abuse

Abuse �One-quarter (25. 4%) of Australians aged 14 years or older had been verbally abused and 4. 5% had been physically abused by someone under the influence of alcohol. �High-risk and risky drinkers were more likely than low-risk drinkers or abstainers to experience high or very high levels of psychological distress.

Awareness of the Risks of Binge Drinking

Risks �At all ages, greater proportions of the population drank at risky or high-risk levels for short-term harm compared with risk for long -term harm. �Overall, about one third (34. 6%) of persons aged 14 years or older put themselves at risk or high risk of alcohol-related harm in the short term on at least one drinking occasion during the previous 12 months.

Harm �More than a quarter (26. 3%) of 14 -19 -yearolds put themselves at risk of alcohol-related harm in the short term at least once a month during the previous 12 months; higher among females of this age (28. 3%) than males (24. 5%).

Bibliography �http: //au. reachout. com/find/articles/binge- drinking [last accessed 28/07/10] �http: //alcohol. sa. gov. au/site/page. cfm? u=88 [last accessed 28/07/10] �Videos from http: //www. youtube. com [last accessed 28/07/10] �Images from http: //images. google. com