Hammered home

For many, part of the college experience is about going out and enjoying one or two alcoholic beverages with our peers. But, when one drink becomes too many, there can be very serious consequences

We discuss the realities of when one drink becomes too many and share simple tips to have a good night that you will remember

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According to a report by the Central Statistics Office last year, Irish people aged 18 to 24 had the highest rates of binge drinking in the European Union. Binge drinking is defined as six or more standard drinks in one session, equivalent to three pints of beer or six pub measures of spirits. The CSO data showed more than a quarter of men and more than 15pc of women aged 18 to 24 in Ireland engaged in binge drinking at least once a week in 2014.

“There are certain sudden conditions you can experience if you drink heavily for a few days in a row,” says Dr Bobby Smyth, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, HSE. “For example, acute pancreatitis, where the pancreas becomes inflamed over a short period of time and ceases to work properly. This can cause a huge amount of discomfort.”

Then, there are the longer-term effects of alcohol consumption – the ones after the hangover.

“Drinking above the recommended lowrisk guidelines can lead to unhealthy weight gain, poor memory, heart problems and other diseases.”

Eventful nights

However, Dr Smyth says it is not so much the cumulative damage of drinking over the years that is the most worrying, “the main issue or risk for college students is the intoxicationbased events, what happens when you are very drunk. For example, having an accident that could be hugely life altering or, even lifeending.

“Plus, you can be much more vulnerable to assault, such as sexual assault or ‘one-punch attacks’. This is where a random person will hit someone on the head and it is not the impact of the punch that could potentially kill them, but if they fall and hit their head off the ground.”

Dr Smyth continues, “Drinking with the intention of getting drunk is common among young adults. They’re very much focused on the air of excitement of what might happen, that it will all be fun and positive. And, often it is. But, it is concerning that it can get messy and unpleasant.

“Most people who get drunk regularly will be able to look back at incidents or occasions where they were perhaps a little lucky. They might have had no memory of getting home, or they could have climbed over a 15ft high wall, fallen and ended up with a head injury.”

There is also the fact that excessive alcohol consumption may lead to overdosing, which Dr Smyth says many people do not realise is a real problem. “Alcohol overdoses have killed more people in Ireland over the years than heroin overdoses have. If your blood alcohol level hits 300mg/dL, you become unconscious. At 400mg/dL, you could die. So, if you are constantly passing out, then you’re close to point where you could have a fatal overdose. Passing out is the body’s protection mechanism, it switches you off to not drink anymore.

“We tend to laugh about those things. But, truth is, some people are paying an enormous price for those occasions that the rest of us ended up laughing about.”

Making choices

Dr Smyth worries that the more people rely on alcohol to have a good night, the more it becomes impossible to have a night out without drinking.

“There are, of course, people who have chosen not to drink at all by choice and I really think these people should be acknowledged and applauded. But, people around the world can enjoy themselves without getting as hammered as we do in Ireland. Many of us feel it is impossible to enjoy ourselves unless we are drunk.”

Dr Smyth says that the reason behind this is usually to do with how we view ourselves. “People say they need to get drunk to go out, but they should be asking themselves, why? When you’re in the company of the people you like best in the world, then why do you need a chemical to feel happiness in that situation? “Some people who aren’t really in the best of form might decide to drink in order to deal with that. However, alcohol tends to make a bad mood worse. For people who have a tendency towards depression or experience suicidal thoughts, alcohol is particularly risky.” Research has shown that in Ireland, alcohol is a factor in more than half of all suicides and over one third of cases of deliberate self-harm. “There is very clear evidence that alcohol is not something which has a universally positive impact on mood, in fact it can be absolutely the opposite for some unfortunate people,” says Dr Smyth. “If you’re feeling a bit down, I would advise avoiding alcohol. If you can, try to find someone else who is willing to do something where the focus of the evening doesn’t become drinking.”

Parental guidance

For parents who are concerned that their son or daughter may be drinking excessively or taking other drugs, Dr Smyth advises approaching the subject with care.

“If you are concerned, don’t get into investigator mode to try and find more evidence to back up your concern. Calmly say to your son or daughter that you are a bit worried about how they are drinking. Drug use can be less obvious to parents unless they see someone using, come across drugs, or see changes like huge amounts of money being spent and no evidence of anything being purchased with it.

“Avoid charging into their room and making accusations. It’s about expressing concern and offering to provide support. Where there is a constant pattern of poor decision making around drink or drugs, it might be reasonable to point the person towards a professional.

“Most of the colleges have mental health supports there which could be a port of call for some people, whatever difficulties they are facing.”