Does Binge Drinking Mean I’m an Alcoholic?

PROBABLY? –

July 7, 2022 – Q: Does my binge drinking mean I’m an alcoholic?

A: No, it doesn’t. But it could be a warning sign. You need to closely and honestly monitor your drinking behavior to figure out what’s going on. A little context: The majority of bingeing happens among college-age adults simply because it can. At this age, young adults often don’t have regular schedules, many are not working nine to five, and the hard reality of needing to make a living often hasn’t kicked in yet.

In no way am I condoning binge drinking among this age group. I’m just explaining why it is more common during this time. For most people, binge drinking goes way down or stops altogether as they move into their mid and late 20s and have more responsibilities and more defined schedules.

Q: How do I know if my binge drinking does mean I have a drinking problem?

A: Bingeing can certainly be a sign of alcohol use disorder (AUD). To determine if that’s the case, you have to look at other risk factors of alcohol addiction, including:

A genetic predisposition for AUD.
A family history of alcohol overuse.
A history of trauma.
Depression, anxiety disorder, or other mental health issues.

If one or more of these is present along with regular binge episodes, it’s probably time to seek help regarding your alcohol intake.

The key question is: Is alcohol use affecting your life? For example, is it causing relationship issues? Is it hurting school or work performance? Is it causing legal or financial troubles?

If your alcohol use is doing any of those things, you likely have a serious drinking issue that needs to be dealt with. At the very least, check with your doctor or therapist, or visit urgent care and lay out your symptoms. Bottom line: It’s time to get some medical advice.