UPDATES FROM THE FIELD
Vital Signs: Binge Drinking – A Serious, Under-Recognized Problem Among Women and High School Girls
Binge drinking is a dangerous behavior but is often not widely recognized as a women’s health problem. Drinking too much (including binge drinking) results in 23,000 deaths of women and girls each year. In 2011, more than one in three high school girls reported drinking and one in five reported binge drinking. Most high school girls who drank reported binge drinking. Binge drinking increases the risk for many health problems such as breast cancer, heart disease, sexually transmitted disease, and unintended pregnancy. There are effective actions communities can take to prevent binge drinking among women and girls. A recent report highlights the ‘Guide to Community Prevention Services (Community Guide)’, which recommends effective policies to prevent binge drinking. The documents can be read in their entirety by visiting the following links:
