Basketball fans worldwide look forward to March Madness, which is the single-elimination college basketball tournament every year. College basketball is a billion-dollar industry in the country, and the big March tournament is a moneymaker for both the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and schools that participate. But more than that, it’s a lot of fun for college basketball fans.
Dedicated college fans gather in bars and living rooms worldwide to cheer on their favorite teams. March Madness is more than a basketball tournament. It is a social activity where binge drinking and sports are at the heart of the celebration. TruHealing Centers wants you to understand the dangers of binge drinking during March Madness and how we can help if your binge drinking is getting out of control.
What Is Binge Drinking During March Madness?
Binge drinking refers to consuming a large amount of alcohol quickly. It’s a practice that pushes up blood alcohol levels fast. For men, binge drinking is typically five or more drinks in two hours. Women reach a blood alcohol level of .08 or more with four drinks in two hours or less.
For some people, binge drinking is the only kind of drinking they do. This may be a symptom of an alcohol use disorder, which is more about your ability to control drinking than how often you drink. Someone who binges drinks every time they consume alcohol does not control their alcohol consumption.
Not everyone who binges drinks has alcohol use disorder. Some do it occasionally, like during March Madness. It is a potentially dangerous practice, though, whether you do it once a year or once a week.
What Are the Dangers of Binge Drinking During March Madness?
Often the individuals most likely to party hard during March Madness are young, possibly college-aged. One study found that alcohol consumption goes up by thirty percent during the NCAA Tournament.
March Madness combines drinking and sports as fans celebrate as their teams try to make it to the Final Four. They may play drinking games and consume a lot of alcohol during the game.
Binge drinking alcohol affects your decision-making skills. You are more likely to get behind the wheel of a car, for example, or ride with someone else who is drunk. Car accidents are not the only risk, though. Alcohol-related deaths can involve drowning and falls, too.
Binge drinking can lead to other risky behavior, too, such as sexual promiscuity and unsafe sex. Binge drinking puts you at risk for alcohol poisoning, as well, meaning someone drinks more alcohol than their body can tolerate.
When Binge Drinking Goes Beyond March Madness
Chronic binge drinking comes with its own set of dangers. Like any chronic alcohol consumption, it changes the way the brain functions and leads to dependence.
In addition, binge drinking can damage the heart, leading to irregular heart rates and high blood pressure. It can cause liver damage, too, increasing the risk of alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Someone who has trouble controlling alcohol consumption can benefit from a treatment program like TruHealing Centers.
TruHealing Centers, with locations all over the country, is a leader in mental health and substance abuse treatment. We provide individualized care plans and a continuum of care that starts with detox.
Services available at TruHealing Centers include:
- Residential treatment
- Intensive outpatient services
- Family therapy
- Trauma therapy
- Gender-specific programs
Our alcohol addiction treatment program provides access to more than just individual and group therapy. We offer recreational programs and medication-assisted treatment, as well.
Contact Us if Your Binge Drinking Goes Beyond March Madness
If you find yourself binge drinking even after March Madness is over, then consider whether treatment might be your path to recovery. Give us a call at [Direct] or go online and fill out our contact form. Our specialists at TruHealing Centers can give you the help that you need to end your binge drinking.
