Many Americans Oblivious To What High-Risk Drinking Looks Like

Survey from Caron Treatment Centers Reveals Alcohol Can Lead to Serious Consequences at Holiday Parties

Wernersville, PA – November 19, 2013 — Many Americans are clueless when it comes to what high-risk drinking looks like and may not even realize they’re binge drinking, report the experts at Caron Treatment Centers. In fact, according to Caron’s new holiday survey, many people accept higher-risk drinking at holiday parties despite observing significant consequences of alcohol consumption such as drunk driving, sexual harassment and violence. 

The annual survey was commissioned by Caron Treatment Centers and conducted by Harris Interactive. This online omnibus poll was based on a nationwide sample of 1,968 adults in the U.S. aged 21 years and over.

“Alcohol abuse is still an epidemic in the southeastern United States,” said Michelle Maloney, executive director of treatment services at Hanley Center – part of the Caron Treatment Centers network in West Palm Beach. “We continue to have serious issues with drunk driving and alcohol-related violence. It’s deeply concerning that our holiday survey shows how many people have no sense of how much alcohol is healthy to consume or how it impairs them when they go past that low-risk limit. It’s a serious public safety concern when 60% of adults who attend holiday parties witnessed dangerous and even illegal behavior.”

In fact, misperceptions about alcohol are linked to its affordability, availability and the billions of dollars spent annually on consumer advertising and product placement in television and films, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.  

So what does low-risk drinking look like? According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, low-risk drinking is defined as no more than four drinks per day for men and no more than three drinks per day for women. But over the course of a week, a man shouldn’t drink more than 14 servings of alcohol and a woman shouldn’t consume more than seven; the NIAAA also shares what constitutes a standard drink.

But based on Caron’s survey results, many Americans aren’t aware of this information or aren’t taking it seriously. Nearly 80% of U.S. adults have attended a workplace holiday party and 93% have attended a family party, according to the survey. The survey asked adults aged 21+ what they considered to be the acceptable number of drinks during these occasions:

• 44% said consuming three or more drinks during family holiday parties was fine as long as the imbiber could “hold their liquor” and refrained from driving
• 32% felt three or more drinks was acceptable at workplace holiday parties as long as the person could “hold their liquor” and refrained from driving

Many of these adults also noted via the survey that these parties can quickly become booze fests where there’s no shortage of destructive behavior:

• 60% of those who attended workplace holiday parties have seen someone under the influence of alcohol behave inappropriately. Survey respondents reported that an intoxicated male colleague “slapped a female co-worker on her bottom” and another “threw up on the boss.” 
• 60% of those who attend family holiday parties also reported that a family member behaved inappropriately after drinking too much alcohol. One respondent shared that alcohol prompted “a knock out drag out fist fight” and another spoke of “emotionally abusive behavior” during a family holiday party. Others said relatives wanted to drive even though they were drunk.

Of those who said they have a co-worker/supervisor who puts themselves in embarrassing situations due to excessive drinking at workplace holiday parties:

·        50% saw a co-worker/supervisor share inappropriate personal details about themselves or other colleagues

·        45% saw a co-worker/supervisor flirting with another colleague

·        43% saw a co-worker/supervisor drive even though he or she was drunk

·        35% saw a co-worker/supervisor using excessive profanity

·        30% saw a co-worker/supervisor argue, be abusive or engage in sexual activity

When Behavior Signals a Serious Problem

Alcohol abuse during the holiday season may be a sign of a more serious issue. According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), one in every 12 U.S. adults suffers from alcohol abuse or dependence, while several million more engage in risky drinking that can lead to serious consequences including alcoholism.

“People often accept alcohol abuse as a cultural norm even though it can lead to bad behavior,” said Paul Hokemeyer, PhD, Senior Clinical Advisor at Caron Ocean Drive. “We want to help individuals and families change their perception about what healthy alcohol consumption looks like, and empower them to seek help for substance abuse before it starts to impact their job and family.”

Signs and symptoms of alcoholism may include poor physical coordination, an increase or decrease in appetite or changes in eating habits, bloodshot or watery eyes, consistently dilated pupils and fatigue and speech pattern change (additional signs can be found here). You can also read more about high-functioning alcoholics who may not have as many of the textbook signs and symptoms of an alcoholic, but are just as significantly impaired.

Individuals and families can educate themselves on ways to ensure safer, happier and healthier holiday celebrations. For more information, visit www.caron.org or follow us on Twitter @CaronTreatment.

To call attention to local substance abuse issues, Hanley Center and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office will co-host the first annual Palm Beach County Drug Abuse Summit on December 3 at Hanley Resource Center on 45th Street. The Summit is free and open to the public with advance reservations. Four separate panel discussions will explore aspects of the alcohol and drug abuse epidemic in West Palm Beach and beyond.  Program highlights include judicial and legislative professionals presenting efforts to combat drug abuse; question and answer sessions with each panel; regional experts presenting proposals for the 2014 legislative calendar; and complimentary refreshments and lunch. This event is FREE and open to the public, but seating is limited. Guests must RSVP in order to attend. Please contact (561) 842-1102, or email bwilliams@hanleycenter.org to reserve your seat.

Part of the Caron Treatment Centers nationwide network, Hanley Center is a residential addiction treatment center headquartered in West Palm Beach, offering a broad spectrum of programs based on the most advanced research in the disease of addiction. From detoxification and medical stabilization to individualized treatment and continuing-care planning, Hanley Center prides itself on offering the most innovative and effective treatment programs designed by professional experts in their respective fields. Unique to the center is the “Hanley Model of Care,” which includes age and gender-specific treatment programs, including the Center for Older Adult Recovery and the Center for Boomer Recovery - programs that are specifically designed to address the unique challenges facing older adults and boomers.

About Caron Treatment Centers

Caron Treatment Centers is a nationally recognized non-profit provider of alcohol and drug addiction treatment. With nearly 60 years in the field, Caron is one of the oldest and largest organizations offering primary, relapse and longer-term residential treatment for adolescents, young adults, adults and older adults, as well as families affected by the disease of addiction. Caron’s adolescent and young adult programs are gender separate and gender-specific. Caron has extensive experience in the treatment of co-occurring psychological/psychiatric disorders within its patient community. Formerly the Caron Foundation, the acclaimed Caron Treatment Centers network operates treatment centers in Wernersville, PA; Dallas, TX; and Caron Renaissance in Boca Raton, FL. Caron also operates Hanley Center in West Palm Beach and Gate Lodge in Vero Beach, FL. Caron has regional offices in Atlanta, Boston, Bermuda, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. For more information, visit caron.org.

Methodology                                                                                                          

This survey was conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Interactive on behalf of Caron Treatment Centers from October 14-16, 2013, among 1,968 adults ages 21 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact rwallace@affect.com.