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July 15, 2024 6 min read
The Dangers of Binge Drinking
We’ve all done it. Some of us more than others. Many of my buddies who I binge drank with through the years have gone on to be perfectly “normal” drinkers, while a few others, like me, went on to become full-blown alcoholics. I am not suggesting that anyone who binge drinks goes on to become fully realized alcoholics, but, nonetheless, there are dangers inherent for anyone who routinely drinks to excess.
Even if you don’t do it often, binge drinking can have serious consequences.
What constitutes binge drinking? Simply put, it means drinking alcohol until you’re drunk. Medical professionals define it as five or more drinks in one sitting for men and four or more for women. In each case, the results will produce a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of 0.08 percent or higher, which is above the legal level to drive. Binge drinkers often set out with the objective of getting drunk.
So what exactly are the risks? The list is long.
Binge Drinking’s Many Dangers
The perils of binge drinking may be well understood, but are worth reviewing, nonetheless. In their research, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the list of injuries that can result from binge drinking is long, and includes:
For Many, Binge Drinking Starts in College
Colleges across the country have long grappled with binge drinking among their students, those between the ages of 18 and 24 are the most likely violators.
In most case, the brains of these young binge-drinking college students are still in development. This puts these students at greater risk for both the short-term consequences of drinking, including a loss of judgment and control, and the long-term consequences if that path leads to alcohol use disorder. It’s worth noting that it’s believed that some segments of the population will inherit a propensity toward alcoholism, while other segments are influenced by peers and the availability of alcohol, which is common on many college campuses.
Research has found that college students binge drink at higher rates than young adults of the same age who do not attend college. Many of these students enter college with significant drinking experience, others exercise the new-found freedom they find in college, especially in their freshman year. Problems that result can include physical accidents and bodily issues, but also the risky behavior it can portend.
Some colleges have environments more conducive to binge drinking than others, especially those with fraternities and sororities and those with sports programs that attract zealous fan bases.
Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center studied the consequences of binge and heavy drinking among college students between the ages of 18 and 24. They found that each year:
(Source: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=1&contentid=1924)
University of Texas at Austin researchers found that ongoing drinking that may be accompanied by some of these problems:
Binge Drinking May Be a Harbinger of Alcohol Use Disorder
People who binge drink are more likely to develop a drinking problem. According to researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, binge drinkers were almost five times more likely than non-binging moderate drinkers to develop consequential problems, such as dependency on booze and psychological maladies.
CBD for Alcohol Cravings
It’s generally believed that CBD binds to and balances a system of neurotransmitters throughout the body called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). A balanced ECS helps return your body to equilibrium. Bringing your body back in to equilibrium helps stabilize important bodily functions from sleep to mood to addictive cravings.
As alcoholics, our brain’s circuitry is out of whack. By balancing the body’s endocannabinoid system, CBD helps get that circuitry back in alignment. By minimizing drug cues it can help break the psychological bridge that rewards addictive behavior and, in turn, reduce sufferer's alcohol-seeking behavior. For this reason, CBD can play an important part in a broad approach to getting sober.
In current research examining CBD and its potential to help with alcoholism, experts have observed that this natural compound can inhibit that part of the brain, usually activated by alcohol, as well as drugs and tobacco.
Exact Nature’s top two selling products are: Detox capsules and Detox CBD Oil. These products exist to help people who want to cut down on their use of intoxicating substances. This is a tangible step that people are taking to address this issue, and the high repeat purchase rate tells us the products are helping.
CBD to Help Tame Our Addictions
As alcoholics and addicts our brain circuitry is out of whack. CBD helps get that circuitry back in alignment. Tests show CBD helps minimize drug cues and, with it, break the psychological bridge that rewards addictive behavior.
It’s thought that CBD stimulates the brain’s serotonin and dopamine receptors and curtails drug-seeking behavior. As such, CBD can play an integral part in a broad approach to getting sober. Many medical professionals and addiction specialists understand this and increasingly use CBD in their addiction management protocols.
CBD and Addictive Cravings
CBD has received a lot of attention for its potential to help with treating drug and alcohol abuse. Researchers believe the key is CBD's capacity to regulate the body's dopamine receptors. They believe CBD helps with cravings by reducing the anxiety and stress related to drug cues and by mediating the brain’s anti-depressant activity responsible for cravings and drug-seeking behaviors. The occurrence of relapses also declines.
Exact Nature’s Detox products have been formulated for addictive cravings. Detox products combine CBD with natural ingredients that, even on their own, have been successful in curbing alcohol and drug cravings, in some cases for hundreds of years.
CBD and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, is a natural, non-intoxicating substance derived from the hemp plant. Research has shown this non-psychoactive cannabinoid holds great potential in helping with the treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder.
Recent studies have shown that CBD may help by:
CBD can help reduce cravings and minimize the pleasure experienced from addictive substances. If CBD tanks the joy you associate with drinking alcohol, it becomes more manageable to cut back on your drinking.
CBD for People in Recovery
CBD is safe for people in addiction recovery, or for just about anyone for that matter. It is non-addictive and non-intoxicating, leaving little chance for abuse.
Some people in the recovery community pooh-pooh the use of CBD to quit abusing substances. They see it as a crutch and unnecessary if the individual is just disciplined enough to stop.
We understand this POV, but respectfully disagree. CBD offers a healthy path to sobriety, so why not take full advantage of it? Exact Nature products contain premium-grade CBD and ingredients long used to help curb addictive cravings. Why not give it a fighting chance to help you?
But all CBD is not created equal. You need to take care to buy CBD from a reputable seller. A quick test is to be sure the seller provides third-party lab test results of their products on their website.
CBD by law cannot contain more than 0.3 percent THC. To go the extra mile, however, Exact Nature removes the THC from its products out of an abundance of caution and a healthy respect for our customers.
A cautionary note for people in recovery – it’s essential to maintain a very distinct line between using CBD—with no psychoactive properties—and marijuana products with the high-inducing ingredient THC. Using CBD is likely to be debated in the recovery community for the near future, so avoid it if you feel it would imperil your sobriety.
