The Link Between Suicide and Binge Drinking

Medically Reviewed By: Dr. Sullivan
In American culture, alcohol use is common. Alcohol is easily accessible and largely accepted by most communities. But it would be dishonest to say that alcohol doesn’t come with risks of addiction.
What’s more is an often overlooked reality that unhealthy drinking habits, like binge drinking, can take a tremendous toll on a person’s physical and mental health. But just how unhealthy can binge drinking be? Is there an established connection between alcohol and suicide? If so, how common are suicidal thoughts after drinking, and what can be done to stop them?
Alcoholism can be a difficult addiction to overcome, especially if someone is experiencing suicidal thoughts after drinking, but sobriety is possible. All it takes is the right help. Call us today at (385) 327-7418 to learn about all the options for alcohol abuse treatment.
Jump To Section
I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
The Facts About Binge Drinking
Binge drinking is a common but potentially deadly pattern of excessive alcohol consumption. In order to be considered binge drinking, one’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) must be equal to or greater than 0.08 g/dl (grams in 100 milliliters of blood).
As with driving laws across the United States, 0.08 is the point at which a person is intoxicated, and their motor skills have become impaired. This point of intoxication typically ensues when the average man has consumed 5 drinks in 2 hours or when the average woman has consumed 4 drinks in 2 hours.
Overall, binge drinking occurs when one drinks to reach or go beyond this point of intoxication and this continues for a period of time.
According to research from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in six adults in the United States binge drinks four times a month; when doing so, they consume an average of seven drinks per binge. Annually, those individuals consume around 467 drinks.
However, binge drinking is also more common among men than women. Four out of five binge drinks are consumed by men, making it two times more common among men.
Yet, gender is not the only factor. Age also plays a role. Americans aged 18-34 binge drink the most, followed by those aged 35-44 and 14-17. In fact, most Americans under the age of 21 who drink illegally binge drink.
The Effects of Binge Drinking
Sadly, binge drinking leads to a serious set of potential consequences. By having a lack of control over motor skills and decision-making abilities, those who binge drink can result in serious health problems.
The consequences associated with binge drinking include:
- Unintentional injuries from car crashes, falls, burns, and alcohol poisoning
- Sexually transmitted infections and diseases
- Unintended pregnancy and poor pregnancy outcomes (miscarriage and stillbirth)
- Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
- Sudden infant death syndrome
- Chronic diseases – high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and liver disease
- Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and/or colon
- Issues with learning and memory
- Alcohol use disorder – the medical diagnosis for an addiction to alcohol
While the listed effects can be frightening enough, there is one more serious, potentially deadly consequence that can result from binge drinking: violence.
It can have many forms such as assault, sexual assault, homicide, or even suicide. When a person’s judgment is drastically impaired, there is a potential for that person to engage in one or more of these acts, including suicide.
While this fact alone does not necessarily confirm a direct connection between suicide and binge drinking, suicide is a potential act that can occur as a result of binge drinking – since one is impaired.
Binge Drinking in College
In movies, on TV, and in real life, college campuses are home to a culture that actively promotes drinking. While some schools try to curb this behavior by establishing strict rules, it is typically something that persists. Whether in fraternity houses, tailgate parties outside football stadiums, or even the local bars just outside a university’s boundaries, the culture continuously promotes and caters to binge drinking.
A study from the Department of Psychology from the University of Houston found that a number of factors associated with college life increased one’s likelihood of binge drinking. By moving out of their parents’ house, college students became more likely to drink heavily and have alcohol-related problems.
These students were even more likely to drink heavily and develop problems with alcohol if they joined certain social groups like fraternities and sororities.
While binge drinking in college with friends can itself be hazardous, another study from the Department of Psychology from the University of Alaska Anchorage found that binge drinking alone can be even more dangerous.
It found that adults who recently left college and binge drink solitarily experience greater depression and suicidal ideation than those who binge drink in social settings. It also concluded that suicidal ideation was associated with drinks per binge; more drinks per binge led to greater suicidal ideation.
While this study does not make a connection between all college students and recent college students having a higher risk of suicide from binge drinking, it does make the connection for a specific group. There is a clear connection between college and former college students who binge drink alone and suicide. From this, it would appear that alcohol and suicidal thoughts go hand in hand with loneliness.
The Link Between Suicide and Binge Drinking
While a link has been established between binge drinking alcohol and suicide in college-age individuals, there is also research that ties binge drinking and suicide in other age groups, specifically among men.
In a paper from the International Journal for Research in Social and Genetic Epidemiology and Mental Health Services, the authors found that this link between the two was stronger than they initially thought.
The results from their study found that amount of alcohol per binge drinking session had a greater risk of increasing chances of suicide than the amount of binge drinking sessions one engages in. More drinks per session led to greater risks for suicidal ideation.
In another study on suicidal thoughts after drinking, a similar result was found. Based on a survey of high school students, it was discovered that binge drinking, depression, and stress were all good predictors not only of suicidal thoughts but of suicide attempts among teens as well.
However, the researchers note that binge drinking appeared to be a more present factor in predicting suicide attempts when compared to suicidal thoughts.
From this survey, it appears suicidal thoughts after drinking is more common than one might think, even among teens and adolescences.
Educational Sources
Given its ability to warp one’s body and mind, binge drinking alcohol does have a connection to suicide. Although the alcohol itself is not the sole cause, it does in large quantities increase the likelihood of suicidal ideation. This is especially true in those who binge drink alone or in those who already have depression and suicidal thoughts. But, just how often is alcohol a factor in suicides? It is hard to narrow down an exact figure given the nature of suicide. But the available research would suggest that alcohol, especially excessive amounts of alcohol, definitely play a role in suicidal ideation and whether or not an attempt will be made.
If you or a loved one are living with alcohol use disorder but are looking to recover, call us today at (385) 327-7418. Our addiction specialists are happy to help find a treatment program that is right for you. With the right help, sobriety is possible. Remember, you can overcome, and you are worth it!
Article Title
I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur 123 1234 adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Find Help Now with
Better Help Addiction Care
Your road to addiction treatment recovery starts Here. 24/7 Treatment Monitoring.