Needless to say, college can prove to be one of the most challenging environments young adults can face in their lives. Besides the pressure of earning good grades, men and women face the uncomfortable situation of living away from their parents, staying with unfamiliar people, and a tidal wave of independence that slams into them like tsunami. Add to that the pressure of fraternity or sorority parties and socialization, and you can see how drug problems can quickly escalate for young men and women who are inexperienced in college culture. One major problem among students is binge drinking, but even this situation can take a dangerous turn when alcohol becomes the only food source, triggering an eating disorder and addiction problem called “drunkorexia.” Let’s take a closer look at this bizarre situation and find out some more information.
A Deadly Combination
Needless to say, alcohol use disorder is a difficult situation alone, so consider how dangerous a situation can become when an alcohol abuser suffers from a comorbid eating disorder. Due to the nature of addiction, many alcoholics will suffer from dietary problems already, given the fact that they consume more alcohol than they do essential vitamins and nutrients. However, in the case of “drunkorexia,” doctors have not created an exclusive term for this condition.
What Is It?
So, what is “drunkorexia”? Simply put, this behavior takes place when people stop eating food prior to drinking alcohol. Initially described in a 2008 article appearing in the New York Times, author Sarah Kershaw explains how “drunkorexic people” will completely starve to account for the overload of calories they will consume during binge drinking. In other words, alcohol users will restrict normal food and drink intake to prepare for the large quantities of booze they will down during the night.
As indicated before, “drunkorexia” appears to be popular among college-age students, although anyone can generally suffer from this problem. Medical studies have discovered that roughly one-third of students at universities will attempt to compensate for alcoholic intake by stopping their food intake. In fact, 46% to 58% of college students have admitted to practicing this behavior at some point.
Seeking Treatment for Alcohol Abuse or Alcoholism
Hard partying and heavy alcohol consumption do not make a person popular or loved, but taking the risk of drinking on an empty stomach can have disastrous consequences. Remember, alcohol use is not the answer to solving your problems or the key to having a good time. You can always take the next step to regain control of your life and become healthy once more.
If you are suffering from a severe case of alcoholism or alcohol abuse or have a friend or loved one who is coping with this illness, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our professional team of counselors and healthcare experts will help you endure the painful process of alcohol withdrawal and detox and guide you along the rocky road of rehabilitation. Soon enough, you will experience a faster and much more efficient recovery.
If you want to find out more about our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs or enroll in one of these programs today, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your leisure and your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how you can overcome your mental illness and take an extra step toward becoming a healthier person.
