Surviving AmericanSurviving
American Medicine

Alcohol abuse has always been common. Now new information has discovered how frequently this occurs in young high school students as discussed in this CDC report http://1.usa.gov/VNlAGA. Binge drinking occurs in 17.1% of Americans, 11% of women and 23% of men. But in high school girls, 20% are binge drinkers (4 drinks per occasion or more at least once in the last 30 days). In high school girls 54% report using alcohol, and 50% of those are binge drinkers, 45% in grade 9 but 62% by grade 12. the average number of drinks per binge was astonishingly 6.2 drinks per occasion.

The story of Amy Winehouse illustrates this http://bit.ly/WvpMa4. She died of acute alcohol overdose. Women reach higher alcohol levels than men. the epidemic of binge drinking probably was a major factor in leading Amy Winehouse to her premature death.

My advice for you is:

• Watch for binge drinking behaviors in yourself, family and friends.
• Seek advice of your physician honestly and frankly if you see any evidence of this in your life.
• If you see evidence of this in your high school children, discuss it with your doctor to get professional advice on behavior modification and social support to try to reverse the unhealthy situation.
• Be supportive of family and friends for encouraging responsible drinking, or abstinence if necessary for frank alcoholism.
• Consider contacting the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service 800 662 HELP if necessary.

For advice on how to discuss this and other health issues with your doctor, see my new book Surviving American Medicine chapters on communication and risk prevention.