During Mardi Gras and at other times of the year, alcohol use is the norm for many of America’s young adults. That includes people who only drink in low or moderate amounts. However, it also includes people who drink heavily, either long-term or during alcohol binges. Substantial numbers of young adults who drink have a diagnosable alcohol problem. If you or someone you love fall into this category, an alcohol detox center is a crucial first step in recovery.
Alcohol and Young Adults: Basic Statistics
Almost half of all U.S. adults aged 18 to 22 drink in the typical month. Many of these people are still below the legal drinking age of 21. College students drink significantly more often than their age peers not enrolled in college.
Young Adults and Alcohol Abuse
Any young adult who drinks before reaching the age of 21 is technically engaging in alcohol abuse or misuse. That’s true, in part, because drinking at that age is illegal. In addition, consuming alcohol at an early age can increase your risk for future problems.
Certain patterns of alcohol consumption can also boost the odds that you will experience severe consequences in the future. The most common of these patterns is binge drinking. You binge on alcohol whenever you consume enough of it to get drunk in a short span of time. For men and women, respectively, this typically takes:
- Five drinks consumed in two hours or less
- Four drinks consumed in two hours or less
Research shows that roughly 25% of all adults between the ages of 18 and 24 binge drink. This is the second-highest percentage for any age group.
Alcohol and Young Adults: Alcohol Use Disorder
The term alcohol abuse also has a second definition as part of the diagnosable condition of alcohol use disorder or AUD. In this context, abuse refers to a pattern of non-addicted drinking that damages your normal ability to function. The AUD definition also includes alcohol dependence or alcoholism. Non-addicted abuse and alcoholism can occur together or separately in a person with AUD.
Roughly 8% of all young adults in America qualify for an alcohol use disorder diagnosis. College students are affected more often than their non-college peers. A young adult with AUD may or may not participate in binge drinking.
Dangers of Alcohol Use During Mardi Gras and Other Times of Year
As frequent binge drinkers, young adults have higher risks for some of the worst forms of alcohol-related harm. Examples of these serious or life-threatening problems include:
- Alcohol use disorder
- Involvement in a vehicle crash
- Falls and other kinds of accidents
- Alcohol toxicity, or alcohol poisoning
- Increased odds of committing or being exposed to sexual assault
- Higher risks for violent, homicidal, or suicidal behavior
- Participation in intimate partner violence
- Liver disease
- Heart disease
- Certain kinds of cancer
Women who binge drink have increased risks for unintentional pregnancies. You have a higher chance of experiencing a miscarriage or stillbirth if you binge drink while pregnant. Your newborn also has substantial risks for birth defects. Every year, more than 1,000 young adults die from injuries related to alcohol use. Hundreds of thousands of young adults are assaulted by someone under the influence of alcohol.
Seek Help for Alcohol Abuse at Springfield Wellness Center
No matter your age, Springfield Wellness supports your recovery from alcohol problems. We do so with a customized detox program designed for your unique situation. You have a variety of available treatment options. Those options include NAD+ therapy. This state-of-the-art therapy supports you by promoting normal brain function. To learn more about our alcohol detox services, contact us today at [Direct}. You can also fill out our brief online form.