DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Between St. Patrick's Day and Spring Break, the drinks will be following this weekend and beyond.
But local health care providers are urging people to drink responsibly and limit their alcohol intake as much as possible. Most people know the physical effects of drinking too much — including liver damage and pregnancy complications. However, too much alcohol can also have an effect on your mental health.
"It can impact your attention," said Jonathan Ponser, the manager for behavioral therapy services with Memorial Behavioral Health. "Alcohol is a depressant, so that can lead to more struggles with symptoms of depression."
Ponser added many people use alcohol as a coping mechanism for depression and anxiety, but excessive drinking can make those symptoms even worse.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention categorize binge drinking as 5 or more drinks at a time for a man and 4 or more at a time for a woman.
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