Recorded presentation

Jacqueline W. Miller, MD¹, Timothy S. Naimi, MD, MPH¹, Sherry Everett Jones, PhD, MPH, JD², and Robert D. Brewer, MD, MSPH¹. (1) Division of Adult and Community Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, NE, Mailstop K-67, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770-488-5061, aci8@cdc.gov, (2) Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Mailstop K-33, Atlanta, GA 30341

Background: Despite minimum drinking age laws, underage drinking continues to be a major public health problem in the U.S. Binge drinking, typically defined as consuming 5 or more drinks on one occasion, is a common pattern of alcohol use among underage youth. While studies have addressed the association between binge drinking and interpersonal violence among adults, few have assessed this relationship among youth. Methods: We used data from the 2001 Youth Risk Behavior Survey to estimate the prevalence of binge drinking and examine the relationship between binge drinking and interpersonal violence (i.e., physical fights, intimate partner violence, and forced sexual intercourse). Results: Among high school students in the U.S., 47% drank at least one drink of alcohol and 30% binge drank during the 30 days preceding the survey. Compared to non-drinkers, binge drinkers were more likely to report physical fighting (OR 3.6, 95% CI (3.2–4.1)) and being a victim of intimate partner violence (OR 3.2, 95% CI (2.6–3.8)) during the 12 months preceding the survey, and having ever been forced to have sexual intercourse (OR 3.2, 95% CI (2.6–4.0)). Binge drinkers were also approximately twice as likely to be involved in these activities as non-binge drinkers. The strength of the association between binge drinking and interpersonal violence increased with the number of binge drinking days. Conclusion: Interpersonal violence among youth is associated with binge drinking. Efforts to prevent alcohol use and binge drinking, along with other interventions, could help prevent interpersonal violence among youth.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

(
• Describe binge drinking patterns among youth; (
• Assess the relationship between binge drinking and interpersonal violence among youth; (
• Identify the relationship between the frequency of binge drinking and violence among youth.

Keywords: Alcohol Use, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation