Cocktails may be flowing freely during the holiday season, but that doesn’t
mean it’s time to overindulge. According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, binge drinking causes more than 79,000 deaths in the United States
each year and is a leading preventable cause of death.
Binge drinking is defined as five or more drinks on a single occasion for men
or four or more drinks for women, the CDC states. Too much alcohol can lead to
car crashes, violence against others and sexual assaults, risky sexual behaviors
that can lead to sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy, and
The experts at Passages Malibu Drug & Alcohol Treatment Center in
California, believe it’s important to approach loved ones who are showing signs
of binge drinking.
"Tell your friend you know them well and can see they are having difficulty,"
said Dr. Gayle Randall, head of Medical Services at the center. "Offer them help
through a referral to a professional organization that can help them heal."
She suggests waiting to approach the
friend during a moment of relative sobriety and be honest and compassionate.
"Recently, I told a friend, ‘I really love you Nancy, but I don’t want to be
around you when you are drinking. It’s unhealthy for both of us,’" Dr. Randall
If there is no opportunity to do this, just be honest with them, she noted,
by saying something along the lines of: "Nancy, I cannot be around you when you
are drinking. I cannot bear to watch you hurt yourself. Let me know when you are
ready to quit and I will help you."
If unsure whether someone has a binge drinking problem, look out for the
following warning signs:
*Making excuses and feeling the need to explain why they are drinking,
whether it be for the holidays or because they had a bad day.
*Claiming to drink less alcohol and drink less frequently than they
*Forgetting what happened the night before and habitually asking people to
help recall events.
*Having a singular focus on finding alcohol as the number one priority in
their day or at an event.
*Being unwilling to talk about their drinking, which would draw attention to the fact that they have a problem.
For more information, visit passagesmalibu.com.