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The Dangers of Binge Drinking When You’re a Freshman

dangers of binge drinking as a freshman
Written by CB Community

Your freshman year is all about laying the groundwork for the rest of your college education, and in turn, the rest of your life. It is also, however, a time when you’re free from parental supervision, and finally able to explore your freedom. This is especially true if you’re living in college dorms, as it may seem like you have a constant flow of friends, parties, and mayhem and your fingertips. This means it’s up to you to make wise decisions, because your parents aren’t there to do it for you.

One of the wisest choices you can make as a freshman is to avoid binge drinking. It may seem cool in the moment, but it’s a practice that’s terrible for your short-term health. Binge drinking can also have long-term consequences if you make it habit.

Here are a few of the dangers of binge drinking when you’re a freshman.

Alcohol poisoning

Especially if you’re not a regular drinker, your body may have strong reactions to large quantities of alcohol. When you drink heavily in a short timeframe (binge drinking), your body may not be able to keep up with digesting the alcohol. This can have a direct impact on your central nervous system, breathing, heart rate and gag reflex. If you become poisoned from alcohol and do not get help, it may lead to a coma, or even death.

Accidental injuries

Alcohol consumption at any level will increase your risk of becoming injured or injuring someone else. Your risk increases exponentially with binge drinking. The more you drink, the more control you lose over your gross motor skills and cognitive function. A lack of coordination can cause you to fall, and poor decision-making skills can put you in dangerous situations.
We’ve probably all known someone who insisted that they were sober enough to drive after having a few too many drinks. This happens because alcohol impairs your judgment. You may not even realize that you’re drunk when it’s glaringly obvious to the rest of the world.

Substance abuse

Binge drinking is not the same as alcohol use disorder (AUD). If you have a tendency to binge drink, this does not make you an alcoholic. Still, there is a link between binge drinking and AUD, so it’s best to avoid the practice. Binge drinking significantly increases your risk of developing an AUD, and it can happen very quickly.
If you’ve been binge drinking, it’s time to stop before things get worse. Alcoholism affects millions of people, and you don’t want to be one of them.

Failing grades

Your freshman year is the perfect time to set yourself up for success. Courses will only increase in difficulty from here, and binge drinking can put you in a deficit. If you’re drinking heavily, you may have trouble concentrating or waking up in time for class. It’s easy to neglect your studies and coursework when you’re hungover or drunk. If you fall behind in your freshman year, it can be difficult to catch up later, especially if you’re still drinking.
The freshman year of college comes with a great deal of freedom, but it’s important to use that freedom wisely. The actions you take here will likely affect the rest of your life, so try to avoid binge drinking at all costs.

For more blogs on all topics related to college, check out the other blogs on College Basics.

About the author

CB Community

Passionate members of the College Basics community that include students, essay writers, consultants and beyond. Please note, while community content has passed our editorial guidelines, we do not endorse any product or service contained in these articles which may also include links for which College Basics is compensated.