What are the health implications of binge drinking for younger people aged 15-25 - Essay Example

According to the UK Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit evidence, patterns of binge drinking have lead to an increased toll of 22,000 premature deaths costing the country £20 billion a year; health problems; alcohol related disorders and injuries. Alcohol related illness and injury costs the NHS up to £1.7 billion annually. The Government’s Strategy Unit research also shows that alcohol related crime, assaults and disorders are incurring a further cost of £7.3 billion annually (BBC News, online: http://news.bbc.co.

uk/1/hi/health/3121440.stm). From these facts and figures from the Government’s Strategy Unit, it is apparent that a study on binge drinking is worthwhile. “The report also points out that up to 40% of mens drinking sessions now technically qualifies as binge drinking as defined by the Governments sensible drinking guidelines. That means men drinking in excess of the equivalent of four pints of beer (three for women) or eight measures of spirits (six for women) often in short periods of time.

Over a typical Saturday night out one can see them drinking three or four times the recommended guidelines. The consequences of drinking will differ from individual to individual and many people understand bingeing to mean deliberately drinking to excess. But on the other hand, this evidence suggests that many may be causing themselves potentially serious harm” (Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, online: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/strategy/news/press_releases/2003/030919.asp). In this dissertation, the researcher will specifically look into the health implications of this phenomenon for young binge drinkers.

As I will become a staff nurse in about eight months, I may come across young adults who have intoxicated themselves with alcohol and may end up in Accident and Emergency or worse on a liver ward as a result of sustained damage to their liver as a result of excessive binge drinking.