^ortlanò Qfibseruer
January 18, 2012
Page 17
College-age Dangers of Binge Drinking
Many don’t see
signs of serious
problem
drinks at one sitting could kill you
depends on many factors, includ­
ing how big you are, what you con­
sumed and how quickly you did it.
Other findings of the report:
— Binge drinking continues to
be most common in men, people
who have been to college, and those
with incomes of $75,000 or more.
— Only about 4 percent of people
65 and older binge drink, far fewer
than adults in other age groups. But
they do it more often — five times a
month, on average. Younger adults
average closer to four episodes per
month.
— The upper Midwest continues
to report the highest prevalence of
binge drinking. Wisconsin topped
the list in 2010 with nearly 26 percent
of adults saying they had at least
one binge drinking episode in the
previous month. West Virginia, at
just undpr 11 percent, was at the
other end of the spectrum.
(AP) — College-age drinkers
average nine drinks when they get
drunk. That surprising statistic is
part of a new government report
highlighting the dangers of binge
drinking, which usually means four
to five drinks at a time.
Overall, about 1 in 6 U.S. adults
surveyed said they had binged on
alcohol at least once in the previous
month, though it was more than 1 in
4 for those ages 18 to 34.
And that's likely an underesti­
mate: Alcohol sales figures suggest
people are buying a lot more alcohol
than they say they are consuming.
Health officials estimate that about
half of the beer, wine and liquor
consumed in the United States by A new report says college-age drinkers average nine drinks when they get drunk
adults each year is downed during
binge drinking.
ing, Brewer said, citing other stud-
les.
"I know this sounds astounding,
but I think the numbers we're report­
The number of drinks per binge
ing are really an underestimate," went down with age, to less than six
said Dr. Robert Brewer, who leads for those ages 65 and older.
the alcohol program at the Centers
Binge drinking may be consid­
for Disease Control and Prevention. ered socially acceptable— to many,
The CDC report is based on tele­ a fun night out at the bar. And many
phone surveys last year of more don't see it as a sign of a serious
than450,000adults. They were asked drinking problem. Indeed, experts
about their alcohol drinking in the say fewer than 20 percent of binge
past month, including the largest drinkers would be medically diag­
number of drinks they had at one nosed as alcoholics.
time.
But health officials say binge
Binge drinking is generally de­ drinking accounts for more than
fined as four drinks for women and 40,000 deaths each year. It contrib­
five for men in a period of a few utes to problems like violence and
hours. Binge drinkers ages 18 to 24 drunk-driving accidents and longer-
reported nine drinks, or one more term issues like cancer, heart dis­
than the national average of eight ease and liver failure.
drinks.
It is possible that a round of
Dr. Billy R. Flowers (above center) and his skilled s ta ff are ready to help those in need.
But those numbers are likely av­ binge drinking could lead to acute
erages for all episodes of binge drink- alcohol poisoning. But how many
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An ongoing series of questions and answers about Am ericas natural healing profession.
Part 19. The Golden Years: Keeping in full
swing throughout the autumn of life
9
B ack w hen I was
younger, I loved playing
golT7
g olfi] Now some-thing is always
hurting so I don’t dare play! Could
you help?
: It is so unfor-tunate that
millions of our senior citi­
zens have worked and saved
give to their Com m unity only to
find the “golden years’ more
‘old” than “gold”. Right at the
height o f their freedom , they
often find it d ifficu lt to get
A
around, their old activities. U n­
fortunately, it is often thought
that they must “learn to live with
it” or be given yet another pain
pill. Actually that may be anything
but true. In our office we commonly
see people in their seventies and
and
eighties. And they love the spring
in their step and the twinkle in their
eyes they get through Chiroprac­
tic. Why don’t you get back in the
swing of things again? Give us a
call today. Isn’t it time you stepped
up to Chiropractic? Life’s “golden
years” truly can be golden once
again!
Flowers* Chiropractic Office
2124N.E. Hancock Street, Portland Oregon97212
M Phone* (5 0 3 ) 2 8 7 -5 5 0 4