Bartlett Regional | HouseCalls | Summer 2016

10 HouseCalls Summer 2016 Have you ever seen someone guzzle drink after drink at a party? That’s one example of binge drinking, a form of alcohol abuse. Typically, it’s defined as four or more drinks for women or five or more for men in about two hours. This type of excessive drinking isn’t a problem only on college campuses. It can happen in private homes or bars—in other words, anywhere people are drinking. And no matter where binge drinking takes place, it’s risky. A dicey drinking pattern A night of hard drinking can cause a head- pounding hangover the next day. But that isn’t the worst part. Excessive drinking may increase the risk of many alcohol-related problems that can affect safety and well-being, such as: w w Alcohol-related injuries. w w Car crashes. w w Drunk-driving arrests. w w Trouble at work or school. Over time, frequent benders can damage the liver and other organs. This may lead to chronic health problems. And while a person who binge drinks may feel in control now, alcohol addiction is also possible. What counts as one drink? Each of these contains about the same amount of alcohol: 1 standard drink = CAN YOU RECOGNIZE A DRUNK DRIVER? If you spot a drunk driver, it’s good to report it. It’ll help keep our roadways safer. But do you know what to look for? A drunk driver might: w w Abruptly stop or speed up. w w Drive very slowly. w w Hug the center line or drift across lanes. w w Tailgate other cars. w w Drive without headlights at night. w w Make sudden turns. w w Drive in the wrong lane. w w Come close to hitting parked cars or curbs. If you see someone driving like this, stay out of the way. Stop and call 911 and describe the vehicle, location and license plate, if possible. Source: Mothers Against Drunk Driving How Toomuch, too fast binge Amounts may vary A large, over-poured glass = more than 1 drink. Count the shots A mixed beverage can contain as much alcohol as 2 standard drinks—or more. Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism It’s important to be aware of binge drinking’s potential consequences so you can do your best to avoid this risky behavior. 12 fl. oz. of beer 8 to 9 fl. oz. of malt liquor 5 fl. oz. of wine 2 to 3 fl. oz. of cordial (liqueur) 1.5 fl. oz. shot of 80-proof hard liquor 1.5 fl. oz. of brandy