WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |Under the Influence: Part 1
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La Crosse, WI (WXOW)- Chris Heath says he sees a lot of professionals hitting the bar scene, anywhere from 25-year-olds to those in their 50s.
"A lot of bars, places to frequent, lot of restaurants, I am a single guy so I am out an about," adds Heath.
Although the 32-year-old admits to knocking back a couple of drinks, he says he never gets behind the wheel even if he has had one.
"I live close to the bars. I don't drive. I take a taxi or I walk," said Heath.
Health experts identify binge drinking as having 5 or more drinks in a row for men, four in a row for women. It's a group that includes Tyler Van Asten who was in town for Oktoberfest.
"Some people might consider it binge drinking. I don't consider it. It's having a good time. People are out here, this is a college city. Some have a different concept of what is too much I feel it's having fun," said Van Asten.
But that good time, can sometimes get out of control. La Crosse County has one of the highest binge drinking rates in Wisconsin at 29.5%, more than twice the nationwide average.
Underage drinking alone causes $69 billion dollars in harm annually.
Tony Kath, a paramedic now for 15 years, says he sees the harms associated with alcohol.
"Anything from a car accident with an intoxicated driver whose reaction time is slower, falls due to instability, domestic disturbances, emergencies related to alcohols, I am sure that number is pretty broad anything reaching from medical costs to damaged property, legal costs associated with litigation, " said Kath.
ER physician Dr. Ben Wedro says there isn't an average age group among the patients he sees due to alcohol related emergencies.
"We see people as young as 13 or 14 to people who are 80 or 90. We have to be aware that alcohol plays a part with every patient comes through the ER or potentially plays a part," said Wedro.
Dr. Wedro says society accepts alcohol as a drug to be abused and celebrated.
"Alcohol is a bad disease, alcohol is an addictive drug. You can go through withdrawal. Alcohol damages the liver, brain and the heart," adds Wedro.
Wedro says anytime you use something to excess it's bad.
"Studies say drink one drink a day maybe it can help protect the heart, but nothing says you should get really intoxicated," said Wedro.
Wedro says it's the repeated patients that raise a concern.
"We see people come in repeatedly, come in need help and we hope we can give them the help, many times it's not getting them to the hospital for detox it's counseling. They need to find out why they're drinking excessively," adds Wedro.
So while people may consider regular binge drinking a fun activity, it could easily lead to alcohol dependence.. That's what happened to Antonio Alvarez you'll hear his story on The 6pm Report on Thursday, November 5.
