Researchers from Ireb note an increase in episodes of significant occasional alcoholism, especially among young people. These moments of intoxication alter the capacities of the brain.
“What seems to have changed in the alcohol consumption of adolescents today is that they have grown in number since
ten years of using alcohol as a drug, that is to say of using it exclusively for its psychotropic effect. This is the observation made by Marie Choquet, president of the scientific committee of the Institute for Scientific Research on Beverages (Ireb). In a meta-analysis published on Tuesday, researchers from this Institute reveal, in fact, “the spectacular increase” in occasional and significant alcohol use (API), especially among young people. This phenomenon of binge drinking is “worrying” because, according to these researchers, it would have serious consequences on their health, in particular on the central nervous system.
Binge drinking on the rise among 17-year-olds
In this meta-analysis conducted by the Ireb, the researchers emphasize that the consumption of young people is diverse and not all consume excessively. However, certain modes of alcoholization specific to adolescence have been progressing for ten years, via episodes called “Alcoholisation Ponctuelle Important” (API, or the French version of binge drinking) or repeated intoxication. These scientists thus underline the increase of these two phenomena, in particular among adolescents at 17 years old.
In addition, they also note that the other modes of consumption have not or little changed during the same period: decrease in regular consumption, decrease in the experience of drunkenness, age of the first drunkenness.
Finally, they stress that it is necessary to be careful about the interpretation of these recent data. Regardless, the addictive use of alcohol appears to be on the rise. A lasting phenomenon? Difficult to answer this question, according to scientists. One thing is certain, however, alcohol and especially drunkenness alter the general condition of the brain.
Drunkenness impairs brain functions
Indeed, in the various research studies studied by the Ireb, scientists have shown that, in animals as in humans, significant occasional alcoholizations had negative effects on the brain, in particular on memory and the functions of learning.
This same phenomenon is however not observed with regular consumption corresponding to the same quantity of alcohol.
In addition, many unknowns still remain on the reversibility of these effects. According to some studies, stopping heavy alcohol intake allows recovery of impaired brain functions.
Finally, the various studies underline a greater sensitivity of women to these effects, as to all addictions, as well as a great inter-individual variability in the face of the effects of heavy alcohol use. “The experience of traumatic events during childhood and adolescence can also have its importance in the occurrence of risk behaviors”, concludes Ireb.
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