A new study has revealed that binge drinking has led to more alcohol-related deaths, especially among middle-aged Americans. Binge drinking has become more excessive and frequent nowadays across the United States. Experts have used the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from 2011 to 2017 in the study. They have looked at the frequency of binge boozing episodes and the total number of binge drinks per year. The study has shown that the total number of binge drinks taken by Americans on average has increased significantly. It has gone up from 472 per year in 2011 to 520 per year in 2017. As per the reports, the average American goes for binge drinking at least once a week. People consume at least seven alcoholic beverages per binge.
The study has found out that especially middle-aged Americans have shown the biggest increase in binge drinking. The pattern of binge drinking among middle-aged men has increased from 428 drinks in 2011 to 529 drinks in 2017. Men have beaten women in binge drinking, according to the study. Experts have broken down the data by race and demographic conditions. The study has revealed that excessive drinking has considerably increased among American Indians, Alaska Native followed by whites. Asian Islanders and Hispanics have the lowest rate of binge boozing according to the findings of the study. This study has been published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The research also shows that alcohol is more dangerous than illicit drugs, like an opioid. Around 73000 people have died due to binge drinking in 2017. Nearly 36000 people lost their lives in 1999 due to alcohol-related issues. However, smoking is still the number one cause of premature deaths in the US. More than 480000 people die every year due to smoking-related ailments. Experts have said that there has been an overall 12 percent increase in binge drinking in the span of 6 years. The study has also shown that binge drinking has shot up enormously in nine states in the US from 2011. New York and New Jersey are one of them.
