By James Irwin
There are several major misconceptions about alcohol consumption, chiefly among them a misunderstanding of what “moderation” and “addiction” really mean, according to one George Washington University expert.
Daniel Z. Lieberman, M.D., a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, said people, regardless of how much they drink, believe they are moderate drinkers because they tend to socialize with others who consume about as much alcohol as they do. College students in large cities are especially at high risk for this misconception.
“To put things in perspective, 35 percent of Americans don’t drink at all,” he said. “A man, who drinks one or two beers during the week and five drinks on Friday and Saturday, consumes more alcohol than 82 percent of the male population.”
In an interview with George Washington Today, Dr. Lieberman discussed alcohol prevention, consumption and signs of trouble.
Q: What are some other misconceptions about how alcohol affects the mind and body?
A: Another misconception is that alcohol addiction is a choice. People can always choose not to drink, but making the choice becomes harder and harder as alcohol reshapes brain circuits, leading to addiction. Imagine making the decision to sleep late on the weekend. Easy. Now imagine setting your alarm one hour early because you want to exercise. When the alarm goes off, nothing stops you from jumping out of bed, except the circuits in your brain that oppose your rational desire. It’s the same with alcohol. Once someone becomes addicted, those circuits become so strong that it may require medical treatment to overcome them.
There's also the misconception that alcohol has health benefits. It doesn't—at least, not for students. For a middle-aged man, one or two drinks per day may reduce the risk of heart disease enough to counterbalance its negative effects on health. Women are even less vulnerable to heart disease—and alcohol significantly increases the risk of breast cancer. If you're looking for healthy, try wheatgrass juice.
Q: How do societal expectations of drinking influence individuals’ decision to consume alcohol?
A: There are countless social situations in which drinking is an expectation. These situations include holiday celebrations, going out with friends, dating and even job interviews. It can make life difficult for people who prefer not to drink, or who are struggling to overcome a drinking problem. The high prevalence of binge drinking on college campuses is another example of how social expectations can be harmful. Approximately 50 percent of college students who drink use alcohol in a harmful way—typically this involves binge drinking. When students get to college, independence from their parents often leads to increased alcohol consumption.
Q: How does consumption of alcohol affect the brain and body of a 19-year-old versus a 25-year-old?
A: The brain of a 19-year-old is not yet fully developed. Connections between the frontal lobes and other parts of the brain take time to mature, and are not functioning as efficiently as they will after a few more years of healthy development. The most valuable resource you own is your brain. How well your brain functions will largely determine your success and how much you contribute to society. Don't bathe your brain in potentially toxic concentrations of alcohol while it’s still developing.
Q: What is alcohol poisoning? Do people die from alcohol?
A: Alcohol poisoning is rare. It takes a lot of alcohol to kill a person. Alcohol-related deaths are usually caused by accidents or by a person choking on vomit. Typically, before drinking enough to die of alcohol poisoning, a person would stop drinking because they felt sick or would simply pass out.
Mixing alcohol with other drugs can also lead to death. Prescription opioid abuse is a serious problem, and some people die because the sedation caused by the drug makes them stop breathing. Since alcohol is also a sedative, the two can combine to cause death at lower doses than would be required by either alone.
Q: If I’m a college student at a party where there is drinking involved, how can I engage socially and avoid feeling like I have to drink?
A: It can feel strange being at a party without a drink in your hand when everyone else is drinking. Embrace the discomfort: Your body belongs to you, and you have the right to treat it the way you want, regardless of what other people think. Carry around a cup of water with a lime in it. Avoid soda. It's sweet, and you’ll drink it so fast you’ll end up walking around with an empty cup. Go to parties where people don't get drunk. People are interesting. Drunk people—not so much.
Q: What are the warning signs of short-term overconsumption, and if I’m with someone displaying these warning signs, what should I do?
A: If negative consequences begin to emerge—even if those consequences are relatively minor—it can be a sign of a drinking problem on the horizon. Early problems include missing classes because of hangovers, drinking instead of doing homework, being late for appointments or skipping obligations completely.
If you’re with a friend who has had too much alcohol, get them home, even if it means missing out on some fun. That’s what being a good friend means.
Q: What are warning signs of long-term alcohol dependency? If I notice these signs in another person, what can I do to help?
A: Medical students learn the mnemonic “CAGE” to help them identify serious cases of alcohol dependency. They ask patients if they ever tried to Cut down on their drinking. They ask if the patient ever became Annoyed with other people for commenting on their drinking. Feeling Guilty about things that happened while intoxicated is another sign, and drinking in the morning (Eye-opener) is a sign of advanced physical dependence.
It’s not always easy to help someone with long-term alcohol dependency. Directing them to resources, like student health, can be helpful. Offering to accompany them to the first appointment might help them with embarrassment or other barriers to getting better.
Give them clear feedback about their drinking, such as telling them it’s no longer fun being with them when they’re drunk, or that you’re tired of being blown off, lending them money and getting them out of dangerous situations.
Q: What else should students and parents of students know, on the topic of either alcohol prevention or consumption?
A: It's not enough to say “No” to drinking. You have to say “Yes” to other things. Fill your life. GW offers dozens of clubs and organizations where you can meet smart people, develop interests and have experiences you'll never forget. The time you spend at GW will be among the most exciting years of your life. They're going by fast. Don't waste them.