In a new study presented by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), a reported 33 million Americans binge drink, which includes 25% of high school students and people aged between 18 to 34. The CDC defines binge drinking as consuming at least five alcohol drinks for men and four for women over a short period of time (i.e., a couple of hours).
The Director of the CDC, Dr. Frieden, said that “excessive alcohol use remains the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States and leads to a wide range of health and social problems” (Medical News Today). One of the authors of the study said that “almost 1 in 3 adults and 2 in 3 high school students who drink alcohol also binge drink.”
79,000 deaths each year in the U.S. are causes by excessive drinking. It increases the risks of car accidents, STDs, falls, fights, and unplanned pregnancies. Not only does binge drinking often lead to engaging in high-risk behavior, it increases the risk for alcohol dependence. In addition, it can have medium and long-term health consequences such as: depression, fetal alcohol disorders, heart disease, liver disease, cancer, and stroke.
