Underage and young drinkers don’t yet know their limits. Young people can binge when they drink, often because they play dangerous drinking games that can lead to alcohol poisoning and even death. If you have a teen or a college student, you need to be aware of the risky games that these young people are playing, both in the real world and online with social media. You also need to talk to your child about the dangers of playing these games. They can seem fun and harmless at first, but can quickly deteriorate into tragedy. However, teen addiction treatment programs can help.
Young Drinkers and Binge Drinking
Binge drinking refers to the harmful practice of drinking enough to be legally over the limit in a short amount of time. For women, this equates to about four drinks in one sitting, and for men, about five. The vast majority of alcohol consumed by underage drinkers is in the form of binging. This dangerous way of drinking is associated with:
- Unintentional injuries
- Violent behavior
- Alcohol poisoning
- Memory problems
- Sexual assault
- STDs
Common Dangerous Drinking Games
For many young drinkers participating in binge drinking, it starts out as a game. There are a number of drinking games that you have likely never heard of, but your child might know. You may be shocked to hear what teens and college students do to get drunk:
- One dangerous game swept the Internet and resulted in the deaths of five people in one month. It may not be as trendy as it once was, but it hasn’t gone away. To play the game, a participant films himself chugging a ridiculously large amount of alcohol. He posts the video to social media and challenges a friend to do the same in 24 hours or risk ridicule. The dares are outlandish and include drinking out of toilets, drinking alcohol mixed with motor oil, and other dangerous stunts.
- 21 for 21. Can you imagine drinking 21 shots of liquor in one night? That’s what many young people do, or attempt to do, for their 21st birthday. Friends encourage them by buying round after round of shots. Not everyone can do it, but the challenge aspect of the game leads too many young people to drink far more than they can handle.
- Power hour. Often played in college, this game has young drinkers taking a shot of beer every minute for an hour. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it adds up quickly and leaves the game player very drunk by the end of the hour.
- The vodka eyeball. This is another game that has spread around the world thanks to the Internet and social media. The idea is to get drunk more quickly by pouring vodka into your eyes. The potential consequences of doing this are serious. It can cause real damage to the cornea and even loss of sight.
- Edward Fortyhands. In a nod to the movie “Edward Scissorhands,” this game involves having a 40-ounce bottle of malt liquor duct-taped to each hand. The participant must drink each bottle before he can have his hands freed. The need to go to the bathroom or to do anything with the hands impels the game player to drink dangerously fast.
How Alcohol Addiction Treatment Can Help
As a parent, hearing about these games should be frightening. Talk to your teen or college student about how dangerous they are. For a young person, the idea of being hurt or dying from drinking too much is a distant thought. They don’t often think of the consequences of binge drinking or drinking games. Make it clear to your child that these games can be deadly and talk to them about seeking treatment for binge drinking if needed. The most effective treatment for young drinkers is usually some form of rehabilitation. This can be done as an outpatient or inpatient, depending on the severity of the addiction.
Reach Out to The Right Step for Help for Teen Alcohol Abuse
If you have a teen or young adult that is struggling with alcohol abuse, we can help. Our treatment programs are specifically designed for young people and we offer a variety of services that can meet their unique needs. Contact us today at 17135283709 to learn more about how we can help your family.
