Butt chugging, also known as boofing, plugging, or using a butt enema, is a concerning trend among young people. This method involves consuming alcohol by inserting it into the rectum rather than drinking it orally.
This practice, though not new globally, is particularly shocking within the African context. Traditional drinking methods, through the mouth, provide certain safeguards that butt chugging eliminates, increasing the risk of alcohol poisoning and even death.
A report medically reviewed by Dr. Alana Biggers and written by Adam England for Healthline explains the body’s reaction to alcohol consumed this way. Butt chugging allows alcohol to bypass the metabolic process that reduces substance concentration before it circulates in the body.
Normally, the liver and stomach contain enzymes like alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase that break down alcohol. However, this enzymatic breakdown does not occur with alcohol enemas. The colon and anus lack these enzymes, so alcohol is absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the large intestine lining, bypassing the liver and stomach.
This direct absorption leads to higher and faster intoxication compared to oral consumption.
Some people believe that butt chugging has benefits, such as avoiding the alcohol scent on their breath and preventing hangovers and vomiting (although the inability to vomit can be dangerous). Others think it can evade detection by breathalyzer tests, but this is not entirely true. Once in the bloodstream, alcohol travels to the lungs, where it can be exhaled as vapor.
Research from We Level Up California Addiction and Rehab Centre highlights several risks associated with butt chugging:
Infections: The rectal tissue and membranes can suffer wear and tear, leading to painful bleeding and a higher risk of infections like hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, and STDs. Damaged membranes make it easier to contract diseases through sexual contact.
Overdose: Butt chugging can lead to alcohol overdose because large quantities are absorbed directly into the bloodstream without filtration or metabolism by the liver and stomach enzymes.
Addiction: As with any form of alcohol consumption, there is a risk of addiction. The ease of absorbing large quantities of alcohol through butt chugging can accelerate addiction.
Colon Damage: Regular butt chugging can cause tears or ulcers in the rectal tissue, leading to infections, bloody stool, bowel control issues, blocked blood flow to the colon, and possibly requiring a colostomy. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, a colostomy is a surgical procedure to create an opening for the colon through the abdomen, often necessitated by severe colon damage.
In conclusion, excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to one’s health, and the severe consequences of butt chugging make it a practice best avoided. Prevention is always better than cure.
