The dangers of binge drug use should not be understated. A drug binge is a period of time during which an individual compulsively consumes large amounts of drugs, often in an effort to achieve a state of intoxication or euphoria. During a drug binge, the person may consume large amounts of multiple drugs in a short period of time and may even mix different types of drugs. Drug binges are often dangerous and can lead to serious health issues, overdoses, or even death. It is important to seek professional help.
Contact Vertava Health at 844.470.0410 today to learn about our substance abuse treatment. We can help inform you or your loved one about the dangers of binge drug use. A healthier future is possible.
Stages Of Binge Drug Use
Here we outline the stages of binge drug use:
Using More And More
As a person desires the sense of euphoria that accompanies a certain drug and finds that after their first use that taking the same amount does not result in the sense of pleasure that the first use did, they begin to take more and more in hopes of replicating the initial feeling. Depending on the drug, this binge can take place over a matter of hours, or as long as several days. During this time, their senses are impaired and they let their well-being fall to the wayside. They might become unable to fulfill their responsibilities. A person might:
- Forget to eat
- Drink fluids
- Sleep
- Take care of their personal hygiene
They might also not do the former three of these things due to the drug’s effects, as certain drugs suppress a person’s sense of needing these things. During a binge, they will feel a measure of discomfort at times, which may entail:
- Tremors
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Hallucinations
- Itchy skin
- Quickened heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
If a person exhibits any of these signs, they likely require professional help.
Becoming Out Of Sorts
A persons’ behavior and functioning may become severely impaired. At this point, the user finds that they’ve reached a plateau. Even though they continue to take more drugs, they begin to feel dysphoric. During this period of time, their speech may become erratic and incoherent. Their risk of overdose is also highest at this point, due to the large amount of drug already present within their system. This is paired with the risk of them taking more due to their impaired state. This is often the point at which a person may integrate another drug or even alcohol into the equation. This is due to desire to either feel a new high or sense of pleasure. Or, it is to temper or mask the increasingly uncomfortable state they are in. In the case of the latter, alcohol, marijuana, and heroin are three of the drugs most used for this purpose. A person may also enter a state of psychosis, have hallucinations, become inordinately focused on a certain train of thought, concept, object, or body part. They may also injure themselves to the point of drawing blood by scratching so intensely that they break their skin.
Crashing
At this point, a person’s level of functionality is drastically impaired. They may have little to no awareness of place, their state of mind, or of their body’s functioning. This puts them at greater risk for incurring physical or sexual abuse from other person. After a period of being high for so long, their body is fatigued and depleted. It begins to cave to the exhaustion. The body is trying to turn itself off in order to replenish the stores of chemicals and neurotransmitters. The amount of time a person sleeps may exceed that of what is typical, with a person possibly sleeping days.
Afterwards
Due to the massive physical and mental toll that the binge took on a person, they will have an awake feeling yet exhausted. They will also feel unbalanced and off. They may experience symptoms of anxiety or depression. The person may likely remember the energy and euphoria they experienced during the binge. It might drive them to binge again to replace the negative feelings that they are experiencing. This is when the risk for developing an addiction increases, as the possibly of a vicious cycle looms. Other people will be so put off by the way they feel, that they might not use again, or let a period of time lapse before they use again. Regardless, they have suffered damage even from that time alone.
Risks Of Binge Drug Use
The risk of overdose is high during a binge because a person is taking so much so fast. For a person who is not a regular user, they are unfamiliar with the drug and do not have an awareness of their tolerance and might take an excess amount that can cause this. Binge drug use makes a person irritable, irrational, paranoid, and aggressive. They are more apt to commit crimes or acts of violence during a drug binge. During a binge, a person may experience:
- Nausea, abdominal discomfort
- A heart attack
- Respiratory failure
- Seizure
- Stroke
- Passing out
- Suffocation, choking, or asphyxia
- Death
This is why seeking professional help is essential.
Vertava Health Can Help
Binge drug use damages your mind and body. If you’re concerned that your drug use is getting out of control, please don’t hesitate to get help. Reach out to Vertava Health at 844.470.0410 today. We can help you to understand your situation and make the most sense of the resources and choices that exist. A healthier future is positive.
