Binge Drinking
Statistics: 90% of the alcohol consumed by teens is consumed in the form of binge drinking.
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Binge drinking is defined as having five or more alcoholic drinks within a few hours. Nearly two out of three high school students who drink alcohol say that they binge, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Binge drinking is dangerous because it puts teens at risk for a variety of health problems, both now and in the future, and impairs their ability to make safe choices.
According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, more than 5 million high school students binge drink at least once a month.
What Are the Risks Associated with Binge Drinking?
Binge drinking puts teens at risk for making unhealthy choices about driving, sex, drug use, problem solving and more.
Binge drinking also puts teens at risk for alcohol poisoning.
Long-term risks of binge drinking include liver damage, mental health problems and alcoholism.
Consequences of Underage Binge Drinking
The consequences of teenage binge drinking are serious. Consider the following:
- Each year, more than 5000 deaths of teens are linked to drinking.
- In 2003, 31% of teen drivers who died in car accidents had been drinking.
- The three leading causes of death for teens are car accidents, homicides, and suicides, and alcohol is a leading factor in all three.
- An early onset age of drinking is associated with alcohol-related violence.
- Statistics show that 35% of adults with alcohol dependency developed symptoms by age 19.
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