How to Manage Sobriety During March Madness
By: Nickolaus Hayes, Guest Writer
How you can keep yourself in check and safe during the nation’s biggest basketball event
The annual NCAA basketball tournament, March Madness, showcases some of the nation’s best up-and-coming basketball talent.
One can also expect that the amount of alcohol that’s going to be consumed, especially by young adults, will skyrocket.
During this tournament, college students and fans attend tailgate parties, bar viewing or house parties, and post-game celebrations with a single-minded goal of having a drink. Managing sobriety or drinking responsibly is challenging for many people during this event.
While the tournament has a significant positive effect on every school involved, it can also seriously affect students and fans because of exposure to excessive alcohol consumption.
Fortunately, there are practical approaches that anyone can use to stay sober, avoid excessive drinking, or participate in the festivities responsibly.
Initially, if you know someone struggling with an alcohol or drug addiction, it is vital to intervene and get them help. Addictions become worse with time.
“Binge drinking or heavy alcohol use is most common among younger adults aged 18 to 34,” said Marcel Gemme of Addicted.org. “Unfortunately, it is often a lack of awareness or preventative information about the dangers of underage drinking and heavy alcohol use that is lacking within this age group.”
Binge drinking is a pattern of drinking alcohol that rapidly increases blood alcohol concentration. Generally, among men, this is five or more drinks within two hours and four or more drinks for women in about two hours.
Whether you are in recovery, choosing sobriety, or drinking responsibly, it is vital to know the risks. The more severe consequences include alcohol poisoning, suicide attempts, health problems, injuries, unsafe sexual behavior, driving under the influence, sexual assault, assault, and even death.
Being aware of these consequences aids in making responsible decisions.
Suppose you are a casual drinker during March Madness. Stick to having one or two alcoholic beverages during the game. Drink water in between and eat a full meal. Also, even if you do not feel intoxicated, do not drive.
In contrast, If you are in recovery or choosing sobriety, take more time to plan ahead. Recognize and prepare for relapse triggers like bars, parties, or people offering drinks. Manage negative emotions healthily that come with being around heavy drinkers or excessive alcohol use.
Attend parties with sober like-minded friends and always have an exit plan if things become too much to manage. Finally, have support available if you are struggling, such as peer support meetings, friends, or family.
March Madness is one of the most exciting sporting events of the year. Yet, being part of the fun should not cost your health or future.
About the Author
Nickolaus Hayes is a healthcare professional in the field of substance abuse and addiction recovery. He strives to provide current, up-to-date facts about drug and alcohol abuse to his readers. His primary focus is spreading awareness by educating individuals on the topics surrounding substance abuse.