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January 10th, 2012
02:03 PM ET
Americans binge drinking moreBinge drinking is a bigger problem in the United States than previously thought. Adults binge drink more frequently and consume more drinks when they do, according to the CDC. Ursula Bauer, Director of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, announced the findings during a telebriefing Tuesday. “Excessive alcohol consumption, including binge drinking, accounts for 80,000 deaths in the U.S. each year,” she said, “making it the third leading preventable cause of death.” Those deaths are typically the result of motor vehicle crashes or violence against others while under the influence. “Binge drinking,” said Bauer, “is defined as consuming four or more drinks on an occasion for women and five or more drinks on an occasion for men.” The new numbers from the CDC's January Vital Signs report reveal that 1 in 6 adults in the United States binge drink, usually 4 times per month, and consume an average of 8 drinks per occasion. While binge drinking is more common among those with household incomes in excess of $75,000, the largest number of drinks consumed per occasion was greatest for those with household incomes of less than $25,000. Also somewhat surprising: while binge drinking is most common among 18-34 year-olds – when those 65+ binge drink – they do so more frequently. Dr. Robert Brewer, Alcohol Program Lead for the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health promotion, noted that many binge drinkers are college students, high school students, active military and medical students. According to the report, more than half of the alcohol adults drink is consumed while binge drinking and more than 90% of the alcohol young people drink is while binge drinking. Binge drinking, among other things, can lead to unplanned pregnancy, the spread of STDs, SIDS, and – of course – alcohol dependence. Excessive alcohol consumption in men increases the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon. Women are more vulnerable to brain, heart, and liver damage. “Binge drinking causes a wide range of health, social, and economic problems,” says CDC Director Thomas Frieden. “We need to work together to implement proven measures to reduce binge drinking at national, state, and community levels.” No more than 1 drink per day for women and no more than 2 drinks per day for men is considering drinking in moderation.
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Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love. Recent Comments
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Decriminalize marijuana. You can't binge smoke marijuana.
All the pot heads I know are high all the time, they don't need to binge
I've never binged smoking pot. In fact, I can get off with just a few tokes. I could live on someones roaches, that's how little I consume. I gave up alcohol a year ago and won't go back to it. It's addictive and has unhealthy calories. I'd like to smoke pot in the evening at home. I wouldn't drive, though I have to say that I have more control over what I'm doing stoned than I do when I used to drink. And I don't find it addictive. It certainly isn't anything I'd want to do every night. I usually drink herbal caffeine free tea! The most that happens to me is that it's relaxing and I sometimes get the giggles. It really should be legalized for recreational use. I think I've smoked maybe 5 times in the past 40 years and I'd love to be able to use it legally to relax at home. I'm a responsible 60 year old adult who works and I've brought up three wonderful children who are all well-educated and fine human beings. So, don't go calling me a pothead! 🙂
@Keith,
...and I'm sure all your friends are still in high school.
Right–that's all we need–there aren't enough drunken slobs out there-now we need to add stoners. NOT.
Yeah right, Texas Keith. Any cop I know would rather bust up a pot party then bust up a beer balls fight in a bar. Alcohol is dangerous, pot less so. Admit it. Or is that illegal yet to tell the truth in Texas
Not all pot smokers are deadheads. In college I knew and still know many recreational pot smokers. One is an RN, one is electrical engineer, one is a computer science engineer, and many of the others have moved on to universities. In fact one person who helped me out through one of my classes had between a 95% and a100% score on all of his tests (I'm glad I sat next to him), which astonished me because a couple of times in class he smelled "a little funky."
^what this guy said.
Also, if moderation is "no more than 2 drinks" but binging is "more than 5 drinks" for a man, what is 3-4 drinks considered?
I find the amount of alcohol I drink often correlates to the amount of time I'm out drinking (not rocket science). If I start drinking at 7-8 and plan to stay out to 11-12, I'm probably going to consume more than 2 drinks. If I just want to watch some TV at home, one or two beers (or none) would be just fine.
Either way, I'd much rather smoke than drink most of the time. People say that it affects your memory, but not nearly as much as getting drunk and blacking out..
I agree w/everything you stated.....Heavy drinking is so much more destructive than smoking herb.I lost a sibling to alcoholism....wish he had been a pot head instead
jim: "I agree w/everything you stated.....Heavy drinking is so much more destructive than smoking herb.I lost a sibling to alcoholism....wish he had been a pot head instead"
First, you're comparing apples and oranges.
Second, pretending marijuana is somehow safer than alcohol is being foolish or willfully ignorant. Marijuana is 50% more carcinogenic than tobacco, it causes severe memory loss that affects more than your memory of the night you smoked, can speed the early onset of psychosis, interferes with the growth of receptors in the brain (and so is detrimental to intelligence in teenagers), etc. etc.
Given the fact that marijuana advocates say smoking marijuana is equivalent to a "weekend of binge drinking", it seems smoking marijuana is much more destructive in many more ways than getting drunk is.
@Nah,
You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. Whatsoever.Not even a little bit. Don't come here with your 2nd grade DARE "education" espousing complete nonsense. Understand?
don: "You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. Whatsoever.Not even a little bit. Don't come here with your 2nd grade DARE "education" espousing complete nonsense. Understand?"
Brilliant rebuttal. Totally devoid of any substance, facts, or arguments.
No wonder you're a pothead.
🙂
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2012%2F01%2F10%2FBA6G1MNA0G.DTL
google: "http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2012%2F01%2F10%2FBA6G1MNA0G.DTL"
Ah, yes. A true refutation. We're talking cancer rates, psychological effects, loss of memory, etc., and what do you cite as evidence for pot being harmless? A study that focused on lung capacity.
Utterly brilliant.
Here, how about a study by the pre-eminent scientist in the field of marijuana study, Dr. Donald Tashkin – you know, the one who spent decades helping the government "prove" marijuana was harmful?
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=large-study-finds-no-link
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729.html
This study found no increase whatsoever in lung cancer among those who smoked marijuana. In fact, the opposite was discovered – that marijuana had a slowing effect on the growth of cancer cells. This was the biggest marijuana study ever conducted, by a government-funded scientist with an anti-marijuana agenda – and even he had to admit his error.
Oh, and here's one that proves it doesn't affect lung capacity:
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2012-01-10/Marijuana-doesnt-harm-lung-function-study-says/52483604/1
I don't expect you to reply now that I've completely and utterly ripped your argument to shreds. Have a nice night!
Nah – it says right here in the article that most deaths related to alcohol are due to drunk driving and violence, two things that are rarely attributed to marijuana. There is your proof right there that pot kills by far fewer people than alcohol. Did anyone here make the claim that it had no ill health effects? No, you took it upon yourself to argue that point.
On top of all this, anecdotal evidence from just about all posters here is this: we all know people that lost their lives from alcohol. We don't see that from marijuana
Also, I don't advocate the use of marijuana or any psychoactive substance (including alcohol or prescription medicines) for those whose brains are still developing. There is significant research to suggest that it can be detrimental to the developing brain. However, it most certainly is not any more harmful than alcohol or cigarettes to adults when used in moderation.
Any psychoactive substance can "speed the onset of psychosis" in individuals who are genetically prone to such mental illnesses. Demonizing marijuana as somehow causing psychosis is ridiculous – it only triggers it in individuals who should never have been smoking in the first place.
Oh, and by the way – I'm a lucid, intelligent, reasonable, respectful, well-educated father with a full-time job who smokes a few times a week after work. I'm extremely good at my job, productive, and have a strong memory. Anecdotal, sure – but certainly proof positive that not everyone who enjoys the substance is a stereotypical "pothead."
Boys black out its pathetic know yeah limit. Beer has been around a long time. One isn't better than the other. I'd rather drink some beers and let my kidney filter out the toxins. Leaving my body clean and clear. Than smoke which no matter what damages your lungs. Beer leaves yeah system the very next day. Weed a lot longer than that.
Please, show some proof that it damages your lungs that isn't either 20+ years old or from a biased source.
Because two posts up from yours I just showed you how the scientist who has studied marijuana more than any other discovered that it doesn't.
What do you think the liquor that goes through your organs does to them over time? Hint: it isn't helpful. In fact, you might say it's the opposite of that.
bing: "This study found no increase whatsoever in lung cancer among those who smoked marijuana. In fact, the opposite was discovered – that marijuana had a slowing effect on the growth of cancer cells. ... Oh, and here's one that proves it doesn't affect lung capacity:"
First, no one was arguing lung capacity.
Second, the study merely reiterates what I said before: marijuana is 50% more carcinogenic than tobacco. The study you've cited, trumpet it as you may, shows only that the incidences of lung cancer were no higher for marijuana users than tobacco users.
Third, the issue was, once again, the effects marijuana has on your mind. From memory, to the early onset of psychosis, to the damage it does in developing brains.
Fourth, the question about marijuana related "deaths" is a non-sequitur. We weren't arguing, once again, whether or not impaired drivers are a danger on the road (though marijuana does impair you), we were arguing about the deleterious personal effects it has.
Hence, your response was non-responsive.
bing: "Because two posts up from yours I just showed you how the scientist who has studied marijuana more than any other discovered that it doesn't."
Your reading comprehension is terribly poor, isn't it?
No one was talking about the effects marijuana has on lung capacity, etc. The simple issue was whether or not marijuana was "harmful". For the reasons listed above, marijuana is without a doubt harmful on a physical and mental level.
bing: "Demonizing marijuana as somehow causing psychosis is ridiculous – it only triggers it in individuals who should never have been smoking in the first place."
Which hardly negates the fact that marijuana speeds the onset of psychosis.
"Oh, and by the way – I'm a lucid, intelligent, reasonable, respectful, well-educated father with a full-time job who smokes a few times a week after work."
Ah, but of course. Another pothead who will go to any lengths to justify smoking his beloved hallucinogen. Cherry pick your facts, make absurd inferences (e.g., cancer rates), and conclude that because marijuana isn't any worse than "any other" psychoactive drug, it must therefore be "good" or "harmless" or "okay to use".
Logic isn't your forte. Most likely due to your pot smoking.
To Nah: You are in no position to criticize anyone's logic. Your "facts" are WRONG and your logic STINKS.
"Those deaths are typically the result of motor vehicle crashes or violence against others while under the influence."
That's why I stay at home and binge drink alone. : ]
i must be one of the very few left on earth that stays the heck away from the crap its nothing but a nusence to the world and kills off people brain cells and smarts.
But apparently staying away from booze "comon" sense, does nothing for your spelling skills. Which, by the way, makes it look like you are missing "smarts"
Funny, I drink like a fish but I'm still able to write legible sentences. Maybe you should try taking a nip occasionally.
JohnnyT, you missed a comma.
Isn't there any truth to the saying "Everything in moderation" anymore???? And would not "moderation" depend upon the individual and not some scientist/doctor saying 1-2 drinks for men and 1 drink for women....???? I know a lot of women who can put it away when it comes to drinking...not on a daily basis either...and they seem to be ok....and would not genetics have a say in all of this too?
Government statistics are as good a reason as any to binge.
Its always been that way...we used to get sloshed every Friday at a famous happy hour during college..totally blasted by 6pm
Gotta go – I'm late for happy hour
it ends in 15 minutes...hurry!!
But it's no fun to just drink two beers
Nonsense – you ONLY have two! The FIRST one and the LAST one!! ;D
This bothers me.
“We need to work together to implement proven measures to reduce binge drinking at national, state, and community levels"
No. You want to impose regulations on people, preventing them from participating in an activity they clearly enjoy. People already know alcohol is bad for the body. So is smoking, watching TV, sitting down, skiing, and grinding your teeth (reading articles on CNN). We still want to do things we know are bad for us, its our personal choice.
Mind your own business for once. Ignore our binge drinking and we will ignore your collection of clipped fingernails that you occasionally sift through before shaking peoples hands.
Graxus, the people in the U.S. Government know more about what is good for us than we know ourselves. I don't know why you would challenge the wisdom of people in the governmment.
alan, thank you. I was unaware of that, now I know my place. ; )
I'm drunk right now
It's called ALCHÑHOLISM.
It's called being an ALCOHOLIC. Get out of the denial aspect of the dreaded disease that wants you dead no matter what you call your addicted/compulsive relationship with booze. The disease is patient and waits for you, to literally kill you, to snuff you out at any cost.
well said-As I stated above I lost a sibling because of that compulsion/addiction.Its evil if you cant control it.
If by 'occasion' you mean 'all day', then I binge drink most every Saturday and Sunday, and most Friday nights.
Good point. I start drinking Friday night and "maintain" to Sunday night until I have to start getting ready for the workweek. Does this qualify as only drinking once per week? I stay perma-buzzed and don't drive.
Alcohol is tied to so many murders, manslaughters, assaults, rapes, accidents and abuses that it sometimes amazes me that it's even legal. I'd love to go with the "these people are adults and can live their lives the way they want" argument, but when they act like children and when their choices destroy other people's lives then such reasoning doesn't really fly. At the very least we need more control, more restriction, and much harsher punishments for those who refuse to acknowledge their limit. If you can't get through your week without getting wasted then you need to rethink your life and rethink it NOW.
Through out history there have never been a people that didn't use drugs or alcohol to escape reality at times. If a person can do it responsibly (not hurt others, or themselves) then there is no problem.
The problem with the study is that the researchers are denying the need for escape. Their proposal is ludicrous, if you aren't going to change your reality why would you drink at all?
That is why I laugh when people say prohibition didn't work. The lack of it has not worked either.
This is beyond stupid. If I go to bar for 5 hours and have 5 drinks, I'm considered a binge drinker?
It's all B.S. and I'll drink to that! I'm over 60, been binge drinking since I was 20, chain smoked until I was 55, can still run, work out, please the ladies, AND spell. It's all in the genes. All you wimps can ........................!
Let's see if you make it to 80 or 90. I wouldn't bet on your genes that much. If you don't get cancer from drinking or smoking, the enviroment will probably get to you.
Yes yes yes!!! Leave people alone! My grandma lived to 98 and had a brandy or two daily.
Have any of you sheeple checked out what's in your muti-vitamin that the media tells you to take and you follow blindly?
@Janet–
So a brandy or two daily is now the definition of BINGE drinking? Weird.
And God bless America!
I used to drink very heavy, binging almost every time. Ultimately, I had to stop it all together. I don't smoke any more either. But, that's just my choice and what works for me. If you want to get smashed / high / whatever go for it. So long as you don't harm me or my family we are all good.
given the way the government allows other corporations to play with and loose other people's money – then use tax money to bail them out – gee i wonder why people drown their sorrows
Binge drinking dulls your fashion senses and is the number one contributor to deadly print shirt, plaid pants mixes!
These immortal words from the great Homer J. Simpson. " Alcohol is the cause of and answer to all of life's problems". D"oh!
So why not let people choose the safer alternative of marijuana instead of steering them towards alcohol? It makes no sense that criminalize people who use marijuana while celebrating the culture of alcohol with our kids at football games to Oktoberfests.
rj: "So why not let people choose the safer alternative of marijuana instead of steering them towards alcohol?"
Lol. "Safer" alternative.
Have you read any of the medical literature and studies done on marijuana?
Or do you merely believe marijuana is harmless because you couldn't bear to admit that you smoke a drug that's psychologically deleterious?
The article states that binge drinking can cause pregnancy. It does not however mention that it can also be a major factor in getting your butt kicked, it can make you think that you can sing and dance better than the rest, and it can Mack you tink you kan type reel gode.
This is America, if you don't like Alcohol move to Afghanistan or Yemen I hear it's quite nice over there (even though it's illegal...they drink secretly there anyways).
They are also junkies thanks to the poppies.
Nuthin' wrong with a little Afghan black hash. Funny how that and cheap smack were so common during the Reagan years when the Mujahedin (sp) freedom fighters were fighting the Soviets. Of course, they turned from freedom fighters to terrorists when they started fighting us. And all theat yummy black hash disappeared.
@me–
As in heroin, not hash.
OMG. If people want to drink let them drink. It's safer than meds. I tseems every few years we find out some anti-depressant makes you grow a third arm. My grandma had a brandy every night before she went to bed. And that was the one she told us about. Leave people alone . And God bless alcohol!!!
And if you are killed by a drunk driver, no big deal right, let them drink. WOO
You know, I hate the criteria used. 5 or more drinks. If we're talking beer, it ain't too much booze, really. If we're talking wine, well thats a little more wine. If we're talking the insano manhattan I was served at the bar last week, holy bajeezus that was worth like 5 drinks by itself.
I can't keep track of all things I'm suppose to be doing to live longer. It's very stressful! I can't take it any more!
Hey buddy, hold on! Pls. don't do anything stupid.
Life is not that bad; until a bunch of mentally challenged, idiotic greedy, fat PIGS holding the progress of this country hostage solely for the hate of a single Blackman as Pres. of US due to the color of his skin. Hold on till Nov. 2012 where the silent majority like you will kick them out of Washington, DC to their primitive backwoods in America. If it becomes toooo much for to take, call mum she’s the only one who understands your pains and struggles better.
USA WILL NO LONGER BE A CHRISTIAN COUNTRY *** UNTIL*** Christmas Day, Good Friday & Easter Sunday are no longer federal, state and flag days. "In God We Trust" is no longer national motto and on currency, Public schools stay open on Christmas / Easter week and we get Non-Christian president!!!!!!
You're trying too hard at trolling.
It seems like you are binging too much? Time to sleep.
Oh mine!
What the heck are you talking about?
FYI: Americans are modern day FAKE Christians ......... period! Take that to Bank of America headed by Christians.
Reminder, take your meds. it will make you feel a lot better through the day. The last time we checked, Jesus turned water in WINE to get people drunk and to keep the party going till dawn.
If getting drunk was bad for you; he would have said so.
Ques. what Bible do you read? Bible written by Pat Roberts or Oral Roberts or Jim Baker or and the rest? Come on spill it! I was educated in a Catholic boarding School. And Bible knowledge (or BK) was and still is like Adv. Calculus. Tell me something that I don't know in the so-called Scriptures or the Living Bible? Will ya?
I dare you, you won't even try.
And the alcohol lobby and the prison for hire industry keep marijuana illegal while 0,000 people a year die from alcohol. American injustice
Eh, we are overpopulated, time to thin it out.
get Al Gore to broker some binge credits, for every credit you buy, Gore will get a Paki to not drink to equalize the risk.
Even Jesus had more than 2 drinks per day! AMEN!
"Even Jesus had more than 2 drinks per day! AMEN!" ...whatever
2K+ years ago, the wine usually had very little alcohol content. The purpose of fermented drinks had more to do with the lack of potable water.
Work is the curse of the drinking class.
I am on welfare and I sit at home all day drinking two cases of beer a day, in the eveving my son takes me bowling and I have two pictures and a strike every time. I get up at 6am aqnd start drinking for brealfast
No doubt you voted for Obama.
To Racist Jack Daniels, FYI brothers (a.k.a Black people) don't bowl.
Racist pothead dummy, if you do go to any bowling house in America, all you see are mostly white folks. Like a typical dumb teabaggar, this proves your lack of logic, basic common sense and a clear indication that you have never set foot in any bowling house. The description given fits a typical pattern of your lazy fat stinky ASS irks of your race on welfare. Punk these are the Stats of American's Welfare by Race and skin color:-
US Welfare Stats:
Whites: 34%
Blacks: 22%
Hispanics: 17%
Dummy who paid for your bus rides, meals and hotel room and board across the country in 2010? Pres. Obama or corrupt, coward, timid, impotent midget white men a.k.a. the Kock brothers?
You wanna dispute these FACTS? Try it.
Binge Drinking has not and will never lead to "unplanned pregnancies or STD's". Oh the ignorance! it may very well alter your decision making process, but should never be equated to sexual relations.
I've smoked with a judge, a state trooper, several cops, the mayor of a small upstate NY city, a real, live brain surgeon, College professors, Auto mechanics, one investment banker, many musicians, teachers, archeologists, lots of rednecks, a well known local TV personality, a couple of lawyers, cooks, students, rich people, poor people, a minister at a really fancy church, a couple of truck drivers (they never smoked on driving days), random people at concerts, a ton of bikers, black people, white people, hispanics and Asians, even my buddy's dog who loved it..... I've never smoked with Eskimos or a person named Nigel. Other than them, everybody does it, don't kid yourself. Back when I had chronic pain for a couple of years from a bad car accident (hit, ironically, by a drunk driver) it worked much better than the nasty pharmaceuticals they gave me. Legalize it, regulate it and tax it. Think of all the money we'd save in law enforcement alone. And it sure would solve a lot of problems in Mexico although they've got a lot of other drugs to be worried about as well. Anyway, isn't it about time we faced up to reality? Peace.
All that proves is that you hang out with dumb@$$ people.
Really, JD? Most of them are quite successful. I've got a nice job, a modest house, will be debt free in about a year, except for my house note and my car's paid for although it's a piece of cr@p. P.S. I took the SATs stoned and scored the highest in my school, no pun intended. That said, I haven't smoked in years, just kinda grew out of it. I have a few beers every night and a nice scotch now and then.
Did the author actually think that binge drinking leads to SIDS or sudden infant death syndrome. I suspect a lazy editing eye with the intended word being AIDS.
Ugly girls cause binge drinking......
Binge drinking destroys your insides,all of it.
I know-I did it and now I can't drink ANY beer and I have to eat oatmeal everyday just to not have to have surgery to correct my messed up insides.
You've been warned-binge at Twenty -no alchohol and oatmeal mandatory EVERY DAY at Fifty.
It SUCKS!
Stoners and drunks always justify and rationalize their addiction.
I represent that remark!
While straight heads rule/ruin the world for the rest of us with there self righteousness because their so "clearheaded"
George Washington was a Pothead. So was Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson and many for our founding fathers. Abe Lincoln smoke also and he was religious. We where made to commune with the plant.
Alcohol is not a disease. Human Beings are.
With Obama in the White House, is it any wonder?
I'm seriously considering quitting smoking and drinking and switching to ibogamine. I mean what's not to like about psychedelic South American tree bark powder that you snort and then giant 2-foot long ribbons of snot run out of your nose as you cross into the spirit world. I'm predicting it'll be the next big club drug. There's already underground buzz about it in Ibiza. Moms and dads: if you find a bunch of really snotty handkerchieves in your kid's laundry pile and some Peruvian pan-flute recordings on their iPod, it may already be too late.
Ill Drink to that bottoms up
This actually made me want a beer. To the fridge!!!
If you sniff glue to escape reality, does that make you Gloudini?
Alcohol is delicious.
You can always count on the potheads who can't function without getting high and the idiotic juvenile comments about drinking. I'm not sure which group is bigger bunch of losers.
Biggest losers? People who are all strung out on "the Lord." Man, they make me want to puke.