HHS HealthBeat (September 01, 2006)

Beyond bingeing

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Binge drinking – five or more drinks at a time for males or four or more for females – is dangerous enough. And more than enough college students do it. But some go beyond that.

Researchers reviewed what college freshmen reported drinking in the two weeks prior to being surveyed. The study in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Aaron White of Duke University:

"About half of all college students, roughly, are binge drinkers. But we have at least 20 percent of males going twice the threshold and about one in 10 males going to levels three times that threshold." (10 seconds)

White says most students drink responsibly or not at all.

But he says alcohol is a drug, so students should learn more about its dangers and be wary of how it's marketed to them.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: September, 26 2006