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According to the CDC, adult binge drinking is on the rise in the U.S.: "New numbers from the CDC's January Vital Signs report reveal that 1 in 6 adults in the United States binge drink, usually 4 times per month, and consume an average of 8 drinks per occasion."
Excessive alcohol consumption leads to 80,000 deaths a year and is the third-leading preventable cause of death.
“Binge drinking remains a common and largely unrecognized health problem,” said Ursula Bauer, director of the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
Story ideas to help your readers who may have or know someone who has a problem:
-- Many of us associate the term "binge drinking" with college, so do readers know what its definition is, or what its causes are? The CDC says bingeing means four or more drinks on an occasion for women and five or more drinks on an occasion for men. Ask local counselors what typical causes of binge drinking are, and get tips from addiction specialists in your health care community on how to recognize the triggers and overcome them.
-- The new report also says that binge drinking is more common in households with incomes of more than $75,000, and the largest number of drinks consumed per occasion was noted in those with household incomes of les than $25,000. Bingeing is most common for 18-34-year-olds, yet more frequent for those 65 and older. Ask those who work at local senior service agencies for their advice on and resources for helping seniors with addiction issues.
-- List the resources in your area for people seeking help with their own or a loved one's addiction. When do support groups meet? Do local colleges have information or resources to help with binge drinking? What agencies are available to those with no insurance or lower incomes?
