Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discusses alcohol poisoning and binge drinking. In the U.S., an average of 6 people died every day from alcohol poisoning from 2010 to 2012.
Find out what the different members of the community can do to prevent binge drinking and eventually alcohol poisoning deaths.
States and communities can take steps to reduce alcohol poisoning deaths by preventing binge drinking, including:
- Partnering with police, community groups, health departments, and doctors, nurses, and other health care providers to reduce binge drinking and related harms.
- Tracking the role of alcohol in injuries and deaths.
- Supporting proven programs and policies that decrease binge drinking. States with stronger alcohol policies have less binge drinking.
The US government is
- Supporting proven programs and policies to reduce binge drinking.
- Helping states and communities measure binge drinking and related harms, including alcohol poisoning.
- Expanding access through the Affordable Care Act to new health insurance plans to cover alchohol screening and brief counseling.
States and communities can
- Support proven programs and policies that decrease binge drinking. States with stronger alcohol policies have less binge drinking.
- Partner with police, community groups, health departments, and doctors, nurses, and other health care providers to reduce binge drinking and related harms.
- Track the role of alcohol in injuries and deaths.
Doctors, nurses, and other providers can
- Screen all adult patients for binge drinking and counsel those who binge drink to drink less.
- Recognize that most people who drink too much are not alcohol dependent (alcoholics) but may still need counseling.
- Support proven programs and policies to prevent binge drinking.
Everyone can
- Avoid binge drinking. If you choose to drink alcohol, follow the dietary guidelines.
- Avoid drinks with unknown alcohol content or mixing alcohol with energy drinks. Caffeine can mask alcohol's effects and cause people to drink more than they intend.
- Get help for anyone experiencing life threatening signs of alcohol poisoning.
- Talk to your doctor, nurse, or other health care provider if you think you may have a drinking problem, or call the national Treatment Referral Routing Service (1-800-662-HELP).
From CDC.gov