Binge Drinking Baby Boomers

In the past few years, I’ve visited over twenty-five college campuses, often talking to students about binge drinking—and believe me, college students from every type of university (religious, private, state) are struggling with alcohol. (Studies show that 41% of college students are binge drinkers. One very thorough study by the Harvard School of Health College Alcohol Study is available online.)

But recently, Duke Medical Center's National Survey on Drug Use and Health was released on August 17, 2009, suggesting that Baby Boomers--especially women--were increasingly becoming binge drinkers. (What is binge drinking? Five or more drinks at a time qualify as binge drinking, and someone who has two or more drinks a day is considered an “at risk” drinker.)

In the USA Today article, professor of psychiatry, Dan Blazer, the lead researcher of the Duke study said, ""We typically think of binge drinking as something that occurs with young people such as college students, and here we have examples of older closet drinkers," Blazer says. The nationally representative study, Blazer says, also found that people don't tend to change such behavior as they get older." We may see some younger people's patterns continue and become even more problematic," he says. "You may think that you are more tolerant and your health is just as good or better than it was 20 or 30 years ago, but it's not."”

As a coach and recovered alcoholic, I talk to women of all ages—in their teens, twenties, thirties, forties, and fifties—who are stepping on the line between “at risk” and “binge” drinking. Usually, after it's too late--and some damage has been done--they get help. Why won't they admit they have a problem with alcohol sooner? Because they don’t want stop getting what it gives them. Alcohol changes the way we feel about things—it can momentarily lift us out the dumps, temporarily make us feel happy when we're sad, and very often it lies to us. But most dangerously, it can repress us our inhibitors (those built-in red flags that warn and protect us).

Honestly, I didn't need a national study to confirm that women of all ages are turning to alcohol as their drug of choice to alleviate stress, hide fear or shame, manage depression, shutdown inhibitors, and temporarily improve their moods. I have a number of friends who are either struggling or have recently gone through treatment; and they are not college students. What started out as “once-in-a-while” drinking became an everyday thing and eventually a hidden habit. Their lives—and their family’s lives—have been forever impacted.

The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism suggest four questions can help assess if you, or someone you love, have a problem with alcohol.

1. Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
2. Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
3. Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
4. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?

One "yes" answer suggests a possible alcohol problem. More than one "yes" answer means it is highly likely that a problem exists. If you think that you or someone you know might have an alcohol problem, it is important to see a doctor or other health care provider right away. They can help you determine if a drinking problem exists and plan the best course of action.

Whether you’re a Baby Boomer, a college student, the parent of a teenager, or the child of an alcoholic, take some time to talk with those you love about binge drinking. One little conversation can change--if not save--a life!

Be encouraged,

Becky