Binge Drinking: a Growing Crisis Among Youth

Headlines frequently highlight the devastating consequences of excessive alcohol consumption among young individuals, manifesting in tragedies such as fatal alcohol poisoning on college campuses and catastrophic drunk-driving incidents.

Abstract

Binge drinking has emerged as a critical focus in the realm of alcohol research. This comprehensive review synthesizes findings and perspectives from a diverse array of sources to elucidate the multifaceted nature of this pressing issue.

Introduction

Binge drinking is defined as the consumption of an excessive quantity of alcohol in a brief timeframe, typically characterized by men consuming five or more drinks or women consuming four or more drinks within approximately two hours.

This behavior is particularly concerning on college campuses, where it is deemed one of the most significant challenges. According to a survey conducted by the American Medical Association, 95 percent of parents perceive excessive drinking as a grave threat to their children, with numerous incidents of alcohol-related injuries, car accidents, violence, and fatalities reported among college students.

In the period between 2001 and 2002, approximately 70 percent of young adults in the United States, equivalent to about 19 million individuals, reported consuming alcohol in the year preceding the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). Young adults are not only prone to binge drinking but often engage in heavy drinking. Research consistently demonstrates that individuals tend to consume the most alcohol during their late teens and early to mid-twenties, a phase when many are enrolled in educational institutions. The 2016 Monitoring the Future Study revealed that 32% of college students admitted to binge drinking. Furthermore, the Monitoring the Future Study (2005-2016 combined data) indicated that approximately one in eight (12%) college students reported consuming 10 or more drinks consecutively at least once in the two weeks preceding the survey, with one in twenty-five (4%) consuming 15 or more drinks consecutively.

The excessive consumption of alcohol among youths and young adults leads to severe short- and long-term consequences. Notably, risky sexual behavior, interpersonal and family violence, criminal activities, increased risk of alcohol poisoning, and engagement in hazardous behaviors such as drunk driving are particularly alarming outcomes. According to the 2010 report by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), binge drinking costs the United States a staggering $249 billion in 2010, translating to $2.05 per drink. A significant 77% of these costs, or $191 billion, are attributed to binge drinking.

Greek Associations

Alcohol consumption is prevalent at most college social events, and many students perceive college as a setting conducive to excessive drinking. Survey data indicate that while college students may drink less frequently than their non-college peers, they tend to consume larger quantities of alcohol when they do drink. The transition to college or the workforce may render individuals particularly susceptible to peer influence, driving them to increase their alcohol consumption to gain social acceptance. Students involved in fraternities and sororities are significantly more likely to engage in binge drinking compared to their non-Greek peers. The Addiction Center reports that four out of five fraternity and sorority members are binge drinkers, whereas other research suggests that two out of five college students overall regularly binge drink.

Furthermore, the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine report that underage drinkers, on average, consume more drinks per occasion compared to adult drinkers. In August 2018, the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicated that among high school students, 30% consumed alcohol, 14% engaged in binge drinking, 6% drove after drinking, and 17% rode with a driver who had been drinking. The 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health highlighted that 19% of youth aged 12 to 20 years consumed alcohol, with 12% reporting binge drinking. The influence of social groups is particularly pronounced among underage drinkers, who are six times more likely to binge drink if involved in Greek life (Wechsler, Kulo, 2000).

Athletes, irrespective of gender, also exhibit a higher propensity for binge drinking compared to non-athletes. This tendency can be attributed to their social circles, which often include fellow binge drinkers who enjoy sports, parties, and tailgating, environments not typically frequented by non-athletes (Nelson and Wechsler, 2001).

Risk Factors and Signs

Several factors increase the likelihood of engaging in binge drinking, including being male, aged between 18 and 34 or over 65, non-Hispanic white or Hispanic, possessing higher educational attainment, and having a higher household income. Indicators or reasons for turning to binge drinking may include stress, anxiety, insecurity, the desire to fit in, relationship trauma, and family problems. Although many college students claim they only drink to have a good time, patterns of excessive consumption can have dire consequences. Risks include unintentional injuries such as car accidents, falls, burns, and alcohol poisoning, as well as violence, sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancies, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, chronic diseases, and cognitive impairments.

Among college binge drinkers, the repercussions can be severe, including death, with approximately 1,825 college students aged 18 to 24 dying from alcohol-related unintentional injuries annually. Assaults are also prevalent, with about 696,000 students in this age group being assaulted by another student who has been drinking. Additionally, roughly 97,000 students report experiencing alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape. Approximately 20% of college students meet the criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), and about one in four report academic consequences stemming from their drinking habits, such as missing classes, falling behind, and receiving lower grades overall.

According to the NIAAA, in 2015, 47% of the 78,529 liver disease fatalities among individuals aged 12 and older involved alcohol. This figure includes 49.5% of the 49,695 liver disease deaths among males and 43.5% of the 28,834 liver disease deaths among females. Research indicates that alcohol consumption during adolescence can disrupt normal brain development, leading to a myriad of issues, including academic, social, legal, and health problems, as well as increased risk of suicide and homicide, alcohol-related car crashes, and unintentional injuries.

Ultimately, the risk of encountering these problems is significantly higher for those who binge drink compared to those who do not. Other consequences include suicide attempts, health complications, injuries, unsafe sexual practices, driving under the influence, vandalism, property damage, and legal troubles.

Prevention Strategies

Numerous preventive measures can help mitigate the risks associated with binge drinking and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). For underage individuals, parental influence remains a crucial yet often overlooked factor. Research indicates that students who choose not to drink often cite discussions about alcohol use and its negative consequences with their parents as a key reason for their decision (NIAAA). Parents who abstain from drinking themselves can further diminish the influence of alcohol within the home, encouraging children to seek healthier social environments.

Additional prevention strategies include enforcing minimum legal drinking age laws, conducting national media campaigns aimed at youth and adults, increasing alcohol excise taxes, reducing youth exposure to alcohol advertising, and developing comprehensive community-based programs. Colleges can implement interventions such as educational programs, behavioral skills training, motivational and feedback-based approaches, and professional behavioral interventions. Establishing alcohol-free residences, prohibiting self-service of alcohol at campus events, banning beer kegs, and limiting on-campus alcohol sales and marketing can also contribute to reducing binge drinking.

For students living off-campus, restricting the number of nearby outlets selling alcohol can make access more challenging and costly, thus reducing the likelihood of excessive consumption. By making alcohol less accessible and more expensive, students may be discouraged from engaging in binge drinking, ultimately fostering a safer and healthier college environment.

Conclusion

Research consistently demonstrates that individuals tend to consume the most alcohol during their late teens and early to mid-twenties. Young adults who engage in particularly harmful drinking patterns may possess personality traits that predispose them to alcohol-related issues. Effective prevention strategies focus on limiting alcohol availability, whether through stricter parental controls or economic measures such as raising alcohol prices to render it less affordable and accessible for binge drinking.

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