What is Addiction?

Content provided by Elizabeth Eidson and Katharine Cammack, Ph.D., The University of the South.

Addiction is characterized by intense cravings, an inability to limit or control drug use, a preoccupation with the drug, and continued use despite negative consequences. Although these consequences can be quite serious (e.g., being arrested, losing a job), people struggling with addiction often continue to take drugs despite causing harm to themselves or their loved ones. People can become addicted to alcohol, tobacco, opioid painkillers, illicit drugs (cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine), food, sex, or gambling.[1][2][3]

Addition is a brain disease, not a moral failing. Your brain can change as a result of being exposed to many kinds of drugs. However, drugs that can lead to addiction almost always alter a specific set of pathways in the brain. These pathways, or brain circuits, send and receive information that help you make decisions, regulate your emotions, and process rewards. After repeated drug use, these circuits can stop working properly. It can take months or even years for some of those brain circuits to function normally again. This is why seeking treatment and support throughout your recovery is so important.

It is also important to note that addiction is different than physical dependence. When someone is physically dependent on a drug, they may experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop the drug. These symptoms are the body’s response to no longer having the drug. This does not mean that they crave the drug or cannot control how much drug they take. For instance, many people with chronic pain take opioid painkillers (e.g., oxycodone) to manage their pain. Taking medications as prescribed does not lead to addiction, but it can lead to physical dependence. You can also be addicted without being physically dependent. Unlike opioid painkillers, cocaine does not cause many noticeable withdrawal symptoms, but cocaine addiction can be very serious.

“That’s Right, Addiction is a Disease”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P–6LEbksds
“Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY9DcIMGxMs

[1] Kalat, James (2016) Biological Psychology, 12th edition
[2] https://www.centeronaddiction.org/what-addiction/addiction-disease
[3] https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/addiction-science

Who can develop an addiction?

Anyone can develop an addiction, but there are certain risk factors that make a person more likely to struggle with addiction. One major set of risk factors is your biology. For instance, you are born with genes (DNA) that may make you respond differently to certain drugs and thus more likely to develop addiction. If you have a history of addiction in your family, that may indicate that your family shares genes that make them more vulnerable to addiction. Another major set of factors is your environment. Examples include if you have friends who abuse drugs, or if you have experienced toxic stress or trauma in your life.

It is important to note that not all people who try a drug will become addicted, and no single factor is guaranteed to cause addiction.[4] The influence of many different factors makes addiction difficult to predict and to treat, but it also means that there are many approaches that might help your recovery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY2luGTX7Dk&feature=youtu.be

Is addiction a choice?

No. Often, your first experiences with drugs or alcohol are choices. Over time, your brain can change and adapt to the drug so that the person must continue taking the drug in order to feel “normal.” Your genes also play an important role in how vulnerable (or resilient) you are to addiction. For instance, genes can influence how your body processes the drug, and how your brain responds to the drug. However, many other factors contribute to drug-taking behaviors, such as your friends, psychological wellbeing, and stress level (i.e., if you like to “take the edge off” after getting home from a long day at work).

A chronic disease is the result of a combination of genetics and behaviors that cannot always be cured, but can be treated and maintained.[5] In this way, addiction is similar to other chronic health conditions (heart disease, diabetes, cancer) that are often influenced by health choices like diet, exercise or sun exposure, but also have a strong genetic component.[6]

https://youtu.be/zV6zKmt7S5E

[4] https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-abuse-addiction
[5] https://www.centeronaddiction.org/what-addiction/addiction-disease

How do drugs affect the brain?

Our brain contains billions of cells called neurons. These neurons communicate with each other like how cell phones communicate. One neuron sends a chemical signal to its neighbor, and the second neuron receives the signal. In other words, one phone places a call, and a second phone answers the call.

Drugs mimic the natural chemical signals, but the calls they make are much stronger, more frequent, or longer lasting than normal signals. Over time, the receiving neurons become overstimulated and stop responding to the signal. In the phone example, the phone volume might be really loud or many calls might be made in a row, so the receiving phone may just stop answering the calls. This process is called tolerance.

When tolerance occurs, more drug is needed to stimulate that neuron in the same way. Your brain gets used to the drug and adapts, so increasing amounts of drug are needed to cause the same effect. Tolerance can continue to build, until a person is consuming way more drug than they intended or planned. In the phone example, now five phones might need to call repeatedly to get the message through to the receiving phone, instead of just one. In response to this barrage of calls, the receiving phone may be put on mute or turned off completely.

It takes time and energy to return the brain back to its normal state. The brain may be able to send normal signals again after weeks, months or even years. During this time, it is critical to remain drug-free, so that the brain can heal itself.

Different drugs act like different chemical signals in the brain. A drug will act on every single brain cell that can receive/process its signal. As the brain contains ~100 billion neurons, that could mean a lot of neurons! For instance, a drug like alcohol affects very common chemical signals and could thus affect billions of brain cells at once.

While the brain sends lots of different types of chemical signals, one of the most important – and well studied – is dopamine. Dopamine signals help the brain identify things that are rewarding. Every time something positive or rewarding happens in your life, dopamine signals are released to tell you that this is something that it wants to happen again and is therefore worth pursuing. This can be anything from a good grade on a test to your first kiss to scoring a touchdown. Drugs increase dopamine signals in the brain, telling the brain that the drug is rewarding and should be pursued.

Tolerance builds in the dopamine system, too, so after frequent drug use, the neurons receiving the dopamine signals can adapt and become less responsive to the drug. This has two negative consequences. First, more drug is needed to cause the same original rewarding/euphoric effect, so the user takes more drug to try to achieve the original effect. Second, the brain has trouble recognizing normal dopamine signals anymore – it just recognizes stronger, more frequent signals caused by drugs. This means that other things that you used to enjoy doing (eating a good meal, playing football) aren’t as rewarding anymore. This can lead to depression and lead to further drug use to alleviate these negative feelings.

“Why do our brains get addicted?” by Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse: http://www.tedmed.com/talks/show?id=309096

Which drugs can lead to addiction?

Many drugs can lead to addiction. Different drugs act on different receptors in the brain, but virtually every abused drug affects dopamine signaling (see “How do drugs affect the brain,” above).

Click on each drug to learn more.[7]

Alcohol
Tobacco
Prescription Drugs
- Opioid painkillers (e.g., oxycodone, Percoset)
- Stimulants: https://www.addictioncenter.com/stimulants/adderall/
Illegal Drugs

[7] https://easyread.drugabuse.gov/

How do I know if I am or someone I know is addicted?

If you or someone you know is experiencing significant distress due to their drug use, or is continuing to use drugs despite negative consequences, you may want to consult with a health care or treatment professional.

ADDICTION SYMPTOMS CHECKLIST[8]

You may wish to consult with a health care provider if you have experienced two or more of the following symptoms in the last year:

Often taking more of the substance for a longer period than intended
Ongoing desire or unsuccessful efforts to reduce use
Great deal of time spent to obtain, use or recover from substance
Craving the substance
Failing to fulfill obligations at work, home or school as a result of continued use
Continued use despite ongoing social or relationship problems caused or worsened by use
Giving up or reducing social, occupational or recreational activities because of use
Repeated use in physically dangerous situations (e.g., drinking or using other drugs while driving)
Continued use despite ongoing physical or mental health problems caused or worsened by use
Developing tolerance (feeling less effect from the substance with continued use)
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms after reducing use (note: not all drugs produce withdrawal symptoms, e.g., inhalants, hallucinogens)

DSM-5; https://www.centeronaddiction.org/addiction-treatment/signs-of-addiction

How do I get help?

The most important aspect of getting help with addiction is to not be ashamed. Understand that addiction is a brain disorder that can affect one’s ability to make healthy decisions, regulate emotions, and process rewards. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, please ask for help – there are many local resources available to help you. It can also be difficult and frustrating to support a friend or family member struggling with addiction. Remember that their brain might be working in slightly different ways as a result of their drug use. Don’t hesitate to reach out a local resource to help support and guide you.

Recovery from addiction can be a long-term process. Avoiding triggers is important. Triggers can be anything in a person’s life that might remind them of the drug. Research suggests that being exposed to a trigger (e.g., needles, burners) causes strong cravings and increases the likelihood that someone will relapse. Over time, the association between these triggers and the drug will fade, as the brain rewires itself, but this process cannot occur overnight. Trying to minimize your exposure to triggers, and finding ways to distract yourself if you are exposed to a trigger, will help protect your brain as it heals.

How can I prevent my child from using drugs?

Childrens’ brains continue to develop through their early 20s. This means that early exposures to drugs and alcohol can affect normal brain development.

Work to be an involved, positive role model in childrens’ lives. Set the right example by using alcohol responsibly and refraining from drug use. A child with involved parents is less likely to use drugs than a child without involved parents, and children who have activities after school and hobbies which keep them focused and busy are less likely to use drugs. [9]

Links:

http://www.addictionbrainstory.org/

https://www.slideshare.net/centeronaddiction/how-to-raise-a-drug-free-kid?from_action=save

https://www.centeronaddiction.org/addiction-prevention/teenage-addiction

Drug Overdose Information

Drug Overdose Info

Drug overdose deaths in the United States continue to increase in 2015

Drug overdose deaths and opioid-involved deaths continue to increase in the United States. The majority of drug overdose deaths (more than six out of ten) involve an opioid.1 Since 1999, the number of overdose deaths involving opioids (including prescription opioids and heroin) quadrupled.2 From 2000 to 2015 more than half a million people died from drug overdoses. 91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose.

We now know that overdoses from prescription opioids are a driving factor in the 15-year increase in opioid overdose deaths. Since 1999, the amount of prescription opioids sold in the U.S. nearly quadrupled,2 yet there has not been an overall change in the amount of pain that Americans report.3,4 Deaths from prescription opioids—drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone—have more than quadrupled since 1999.5

Heroin use is trending up

From 2002–2013, past month heroin use, past year heroin use, and heroin addiction have all increased among 18-25 year olds.6 The number of people who started to use heroin in the past year is also trending up. Among new heroin users, approximately three out of four report abusing prescription opioids prior to using heroin.7 The increased availability, lower price, and increased purity of heroin in the US have been identified as possible contributors to rising rates of heroin use.8,9 According to data from the DEA, the amount of heroin seized each year at the southwest border of the United States was approximately 500 kg during 2000–2008. This amount quadrupled to 2,196 kg in 2013.10

Heroin-related deaths more than tripled between 2010 and 2015, with 12,989 heroin deaths in 2015. The largest increase in overdose deaths from 2014 to 2015 was for those involving synthetic opioids (other than methadone), which rose from 5,544 deaths in 2014 to 9,580 deaths in 2015. One of these synthetic opioids, illegally-made fentanyl, drove the increase.1 It was often mixed with heroin and/or cocaine as a combination product—with or without the user’s knowledge.

What can be done?

We need to improve prescribing of opioids, expand treatment of addiction, and reduce access to illegal opioids.

Improve opioid prescribing to reduce exposure to opioids, prevent abuse, and stop addiction.
Expand access to evidence-based substance abuse treatment, such as Medication-Assisted Treatment, for people already struggling with opioid addiction.
Expand access and use of naloxone—a safe antidote to reverse opioid overdose.
Promote the use of state prescription drug monitoring programs, which give health care providers information to improve patient safety and prevent abuse.
Implement and strengthen state strategies that help prevent high-risk prescribing and prevent opioid overdose.
Improve detection of the trends of illegal opioid use by working with state and local public health agencies, medical examiners and coroners, and law enforcement.

References

Rudd RA, Seth P, David F, Scholl L. Increases in Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths — United States, 2010–2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 16 December 2016. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6550e1.
CDC. Wide-ranging online data for epidemiologic research (WONDER). Atlanta, GA: CDC, National Center for Health Statistics; 2016. Available at http://wonder.cdc.gov.
Chang H, Daubresse M, Kruszewski S, et al. Prevalence and treatment of pain in emergency departments in the United States, 2000 – 2010. Amer J of Emergency Med 2014; 32(5): 421-31.
Daubresse M, Chang H, Yu Y, Viswanathan S, et al. Ambulatory diagnosis and treatment of nonmalignant pain in the United States, 2000 – 2010. Medical Care 2013; 51(10): 870-878.
CDC. Wide-ranging online data for epidemiologic research (WONDER). Atlanta, GA: CDC, National Center for Health Statistics; 2016. Available at http://wonder.cdc.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Demographic and Substance Use Trends Among Heroin Users — United States, 2002–2013. MMWR 2015; 64(26):719-725
Muhuri PK, Gfroerer JC, Davies C. Associations of nonmedical pain reliever use and initiation of heroin use in the United States. CBHSQ Data Review, 2013.
Cicero TJ, Ellis MS, Surratt HL, Kurtz SP. The changing face of heroin use in the United States: a retrospective analysis of the past fifty years. JAMA Psychiatry 2014;71:821–6.
Jones CM. Heroin use and heroin use risk behaviors among nonmedical users of prescription opioid pain relievers — United States, 2002–2004 and 2008–2010. Drug Alcohol Depend 2013;132:95-100.
US Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration. National Drug Threat Assessment Summary. DEA-DCT-DIR-002-15 2014.

The Truth About E-Cigarettes & Vape

Truth About E-Cigs

E-Cigarettes: Talk to Youth About the Risks

If anyone can speak firsthand about the significant rise in e-cigarette use by kids, teens, and young adults, it’s someone who works with them every day. Lauren W., a high school teacher in Pennsylvania, often hears her students talking about using e-cigarettes. But when it comes to the dangers of nicotine and addiction for young people, she does not believe they really understand how dangerous e-cigarettes are for their health.

“I talk to them about the risks all the time,” she says, “and those talks reveal that they have never really thought about it.”

As someone who can influence young people, Lauren is doing what she can to teach them about the harms e-cigarette use can have on them. “They are always interested when I pull up research and start listing off findings,” she says.

This fall, as young people get ready to return to school, you have the power to start the conversation. Whether you are a parent, a teacher, a coach—or even a health care professional helping to make sure kids start the new school year in good health—you have an important part to play when it comes to talking to kids about the harms of e-cigarettes.

Since 2014, e-cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco product among US middle and high school students. Between 2017 and 2018 alone, the number of youth who used e-cigarettes went up by 1.5 million. In fact, the US Surgeon General has called e-cigarette use by youth an “epidemic,” and warned that it threatens decades of progress toward making sure fewer young people use tobacco.

Research also shows that e-cigarette advertising uses many of the same themes that have led to cigarette smoking among young people. In 2016, nearly 7 out of 10 US middle and high school students saw ads for e-cigarettes in stores, on the Internet, on TV, or in magazines or newspapers.

Advertising can also make e-cigarette use look harmless for young people. Lauren, the high school teacher, says that most of her students know that regular cigarettes cause disease and even death. However, she says most of them don’t know that nicotine in e-cigarettes can harm brain development, or that e-cigarettes can be dangerous to youth for other reasons, too.

Nicotine Can Harm Developing Brains

Teacher stands at the back of her high school class.

Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, the highly addictive drug in tobacco. Nicotine is especially harmful to young people. The human brain keeps developing until around the age of 25. Using products with nicotine under age 25 can harm the part of the brain responsible for memory, attention, and learning.

Many young people who use e-cigarettes also smoke regular cigarettes. There is evidence that young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke regular cigarettes in the future. Also, even though the liquid that e-cigarettes heat to form an aerosol (vapor) has fewer harmful ingredients than cigarette smoke, it still contains harmful ingredients—including heavy metals and even cancer-causing chemicals—that can be breathed deep into the lungs. The part of the e-cigarette that heats up may also explode or cause serious burns.

Be Aware of “Hidden” E-Cigarettes

If you work with young people, you may have seen an e-cigarette device without even knowing it. The most often sold e-cigarette in the United States is a brand called JUUL, which looks like a USB flash drive. JUUL “pods,” which contain liquid heated by the device, have as much nicotine as a pack of 20 cigarettes. They also come in flavors, which can make them more appealing to young people. E-cigarettes can also look like other everyday items, such as highlighters, credit cards, remote controls, and pens.

“One of our graduates who I’m still in touch with tells me he once left his vape in my classroom,” Lauren W. says. “Since it looked like a USB drive, and this was before I had any idea what vaping was, I just gave it back to him and never even thought twice about it.”

Everyone Has a Part to Play
That’s why it’s up to you to educate yourself about e-cigarettes. Know what to say when the topic comes up. The earlier and more often you speak with young people about e-cigarettes, the more likely they are to listen.

It’s important that schools, community centers, and other places where young people gather during or after school hours have tobacco-free campus policies. If there is already a tobacco-free policy in place, make sure students know about it and that it is enforced. School or community events should also set a good example by not accepting sponsorship from tobacco or e-cigarette companies.

Young people are also more likely to pay attention if the adults in their lives who they trust and respect are willing to talk. Teachers and administrators can use health classes and assemblies this upcoming school year to invite students to ask questions about e-cigarettes. There are many e-cigarette prevention programs teachers can use in their classrooms to let students know about the risks of e-cigarette use.

It’s also important to give students who do use e-cigarettes and want to stop the support and resources they need to quit. Many resources are available, including a mobile app to help youth quit using e-cigarettes.

Finally, if you use any tobacco products, commit to quit. Kids are more likely to use tobacco products if others around them do. So lead by example – be tobacco-free.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/features/back-to-school/e-cigarettes-talk-to-youth-about-risks/index.html

Underage Drinking

Underage Drinking
Underage drinking is a serious public health problem in the United States. Alcohol is the most widely used substance of abuse among America’s youth, and drinking by young people
poses enormous health and safety risks.

The consequences of underage drinking can affect everyone— regardless of age or drinking status. We all feel the effects of the aggressive behavior, property damage, injuries, violence, and deaths that can result from underage drinking. This is not simply a problem for some families—it is a nationwide concern.

Underage Drinking Statistics

Many young people drink alcohol
» By age 15, about 33 percent of teens have had at least 1 drink.
» By age 18, about 60 percent of teens have had at least 1 drink.
» In 2015, 7.7 million young people ages 12–20 reported that they drank alcohol beyond “just a few sips” in the past month.

Youth ages 12–20 often binge drink
People ages 12 through 20 drink
11 percent of all alcohol consumed in the United States.

Although youth drink less often than adults do, when they do drink, they drink more. That is because young people consume more than 90 percent of their alcohol by binge drinking. Binge drinking is consuming many drinks on an occasion. Drinking alcohol and binge drinking become more prevalent as young people get older.

» 5.1 million young people reported binge drinking (for males 5 or more drinks and for females
4 or more drinks on the same occasion within a few hours) at least once in the past month.
» 1.3 million young people reported binge drinking on 5 or more days over the past month.

Drinking patterns vary by age and gender
As adolescents get older, they tend to drink more. Prevalence of drinking by boys and girls is similar, although among older adolescents, boys binge more than girls.

Underage Drinking Is Dangerous

Underage drinking poses a range of risks and negative consequences. It is dangerous because it: Causes many deaths.

Based on data from 2006–2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that, on average, alcohol is a factor in the deaths of 4,358 young people under age 21 each year.

This includes:
» 1,580 deaths from motor vehicle crashes
» 1,269 from homicides
» 245 from alcohol poisoning, falls, burns, and drowning
» 492 from suicides

Causes many injuries
Drinking alcohol can cause kids to have accidents and get hurt. In 2011 alone, about 188,000 people under age 21 visited an emergency room for alcohol-related injuries.

Impairs judgment
Drinking can lead to poor decisions about engaging in risky behavior, including drinking and driving, sexual activity (such as unprotected sex), and aggressive or violent behavior.

Increases the risk of physical and sexual assault
Underage youth who drink are more likely to carry out or be the victim of a physical or sexual assault after drinking than others their age who do not drink.

Can lead to other problems

Drinking may cause youth to have trouble in school or with the law. Drinking alcohol also is associated with the use of other drugs.

Increases the risk of alcohol problems later in life

Research shows that people who start drinking before the age of 15 are 4 times more likely to meet the criteria for alcohol dependence at some point in their lives.

Interferes with brain development

Research shows that young people’s brains keep developing well into their 20s. Alcohol can alter this development, potentially affecting both brain structure and function. This may cause cognitive or learning problems and/or make the brain more prone to alcohol dependence. This is especially a risk when people start drinking young and drink heavily.

Why Do So Many Young People Drink?

As children mature, it is natural for them to assert their independence, seek new challenges, and try taking risks. Underage drinking is a risk that attracts many developing adolescents and teens. Many want to try alcohol, but often do not fully recognize its effects on their health and behavior. Other reasons young people drink alcohol include:

Peer pressure
Increased independence, or desire for it
Stress

In addition, many youth may have easy access to alcohol. In 2015, among 12–14-year-olds who reported that they drank alcohol in the past month, 95.1 percent reported that they got it for free the last time they drank. In many cases, adolescents have access to alcohol through family members, or find it at home.

What is “binge drinking?”

For adults, binge drinking means drinking so much within about 2 hours that blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels reach 0.08 g/dL, the legal limit of intoxication. For women, this typically occurs after 4 drinks, and for men, about 5 drinks But, according to recent research estimates, children may reach these BAC levels after fewer drinks.

For boys:

Ages 9–13: About 3 drinks
Ages 14–15: About 4 drinks
Ages 16–17: About 5 drinks

For girls:

Ages 9–17: About 3 drink

Preventing Underage Drinking

Preventing underage drinking is a complex challenge. Any successful approach must consider many factors, including:

Genetics
Personality
Rate of maturation and development
Level of risk
Social factors
Environmental factors

Several key approaches have been found to be successful. They are:

Environmental interventions

This approach makes alcohol harder to get—for example, by raising the price of alcohol and keeping the minimum drinking age at 21. Enacting zero-tolerance laws that outlaw driving after any amount of drinking for people under 21 also can help prevent problems.

Individual-level interventions

This approach seeks to change the way young people think about alcohol, so they are better able to resist pressures to drink.

School-based interventions

These are programs that provide students with the knowledge, skills, motivation, and opportunities they need to remain alcohol free.

Family-based interventions

These are efforts to empower parents to set and enforce clear rules against drinking, as well as improve communication between children and parents about alcohol.

The Role Parents Play

Parents and teachers can play a big role in shaping young people’s attitudes toward drinking. Parents in particular can have either a positive or negative influence.

Parents can help their children avoid alcohol problems by:

Talking about the dangers of drinking
Drinking responsibly, if they choose to drink
Serving as positive role models in general
Not making alcohol available
Getting to know their children’s friends
Having regular conversations about life in general
Connecting with other parents about sending clear messages about the importance of not drinking alcohol
Supervising all parties to make sure there is no alcohol
Encouraging kids to participate in healthy and fun activities that do not involve alcohol

Research shows that children whose parents are actively involved in their lives are less likely to drink alcohol.

On the other hand, research shows that a child with a parent who binge drinks is much more likely to binge drink than a child whose parents do not binge drink.

Warning Signs of Underage Drinking

Adolescence is a time of change and growth, including behavior changes. These changes usually are a normal part of growing up but sometimes can point to an alcohol problem. Parents and teachers should pay close attention to the following warning signs that may indicate underage drinking:

Changes in mood, including anger and irritability
Academic and/or behavioral problems in school
Rebelliousness
Changing groups of friends
Low energy level
Less interest in activities and/or care in appearance
Finding alcohol among a young person’s things
Smelling alcohol on a young person’s breath
Problems concentrating and/or remembering
Slurred speech
Coordination problems

Treating Underage Drinking Problems

Screening young people for alcohol use and alcohol use disorder is very important and may avoid problems down the road. Screening by a health practitioner (e.g., pediatrician) provides an opportunity to identify problems early and address them before they escalate. It also allows young people to ask questions of a knowledgeable adult. NIAAA and the American Academy of Pediatrics both recommend that all youth be regularly screened for alcohol use.

Some young people can experience serious problems as a result of drinking, including alcohol use disorder, which require intervention by trained professionals. Professional treatment options include:

Seeing a counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other trained professional
Participating in outpatient or inpatient treatment at a substance abuse treatment facility or other licensed program

Sources:

1 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Table 2.19B: Alcohol Use in Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month, by Detailed Age Category: Percentages, 2014 and 2015. Rockville, MD: SAMHSA, 2016. Available at: http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015.htm#tab2-19b. Accessed 1/20/17.

2 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 2015 Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Figure 24. Rockville, MD: SAMHSA, 2016. Available at: http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-FFR1-2015/NSDUH-FFR1-2015/NSDUH-FFR1-2015.htm#fig24. Accessed 1/20/17.

3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fact Sheets: Underage Drinking. Atlanta, GA: CDC, 2016. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/underage-drinking.htm. Accessed 1/20/17.

4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Alcohol and Public Health: Alcohol-Related Disease Impact (ARDI). Atlanta, GA: CDC, 2016. Available at: http://go.usa.gov/xkde2. Accessed 1/20/17.

5 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. The DAWN Report: Highlights of the 2014 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) Findings on Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits. Rockville, MD: SAMHSA, 2014. Available at: http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/spot143-underage-drinking-2014/spot143-underage-drinking-2014/spot143-underage-drinking-2014.pdf. Accessed 1/20/17.

6 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Table 6.70B: Source Where Alcohol Was Obtained for Most Recent Use in Past Month among Past Month Alcohol Users Aged 12 to 20, by Age Group: Percentages, 2014 and 2015. Rockville, MD: SAMHSA, 2016. Available at: http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015.htm#tab6-70b. Accessed 1/20/17.

7 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Underage drinking: Why do adolescents drink, what are the risks, and how can underage drinking be prevented? Alcohol Alert, No. 67. Rockville, MD: NIAAA, January 2006. Available at: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/AA67/AA67.htm. Accessed 1/20/17.

SOURCE: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health Public Use File Codebook. Rockville, MD: Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2016.
NOTE. Binge Alcohol Use is defined as drinking 5 or more drinks on the same occasion for boys or 4 or more drinks on the same occasion for girls on at least one day in the past 30 day

What is Binge Drinking?

What Is Binge Drinking?

“BINGE DRINKING” Statistics:

CDC INFO

“Binge drinking is the most common, costly, and deadly pattern of excessive alcohol use in the United States.”
One in six US adults binge drinks about four times a month
Binge drinking is most common among younger adults aged 18–34 years
Most people younger than age 21 who drink alcohol report binge drinking, often consuming large amounts

NIAAA Info

In 2019, 25.8 percent of people ages 18 and older reported that they engaged in binge drinking in the past month
High-intensity drinking is defined as consuming alcohol at levels that are two or more times the gender-specific binge drinking thresholds
Compared with people who did not binge drink, people who drank alcohol at twice the gender-specific binge drinking thresholds were 70 times more likely to have an alcohol-related emergency department (ED) visit, and those who consumed alcohol at 3 times the gender-specific binge thresholds were 93 times more likely to have an alcohol-related ED visit
According to the 2019 NSDUH, 33.0 percent of full-time college students ages 18 to 22 reported binge drinking in the past month

Safe Drinking:

7 Tips for Safe Drinking

1. Understand both how much alcohol you are having and how much you should have

healthy adults should drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week, and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day, to cut the lifetime risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury.

2. Eat before (and during) drinking sessions

Alcohol enters your bloodstream through your stomach and small intestine. If your stomach's empty when you start drinking, the alcohol will enter your bloodstream more quickly.

3. Count your drinks

A standard drink is a can or bottle of mid-strength beer, 100ml of wine or a 30ml shot of spirits
Drinks served in bars or restaurants often contain more than 1 standard drink
Set yourself a drinks limit and stick to it

4. Slow your intake with alcohol-free drinks

To keep safe, slow down your drinking to 1 drink per hour. You can do this by:

drinking non-alcoholic drinks as well as alcoholic drinks
drinking water to quench your thirst before you start drinking alcohol
opting for low-alcohol drinks

5. Skip the drinking games and shots

Try to avoid drinking games, shots, skolling races or anything that aims to get you intoxicated fast
When you binge drink (drink more than 4 drinks in 1 session) and get drunk, you're more likely to get hurt
Don't mix alcohol with energy drinks, as this can make you drink more. Be careful about how much you drink if you've taken any other drugs or medicines

6. Don't drink and drive

Plan how you're going to get home before you go out.
Decide with your friends who will be the 'designated driver'.
Make sure you reserve enough money for a taxi home.
Use public transport.

7. 'Just say no' if you're...

Very young, pregnant, planning a pregnancy, breastfeeding, on meds or feeling depressed.

Alcohol Safety

Keep and eye on your friends
Have a backup plan
Know what you're drinking
Trust your instincts
Don't leave a drink unattended
Don't accept drinks from people you don’t know or trust
Check in with yourself
Be aware of sudden changes in the way your body feels

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