Extreme Binge Drinking A Concern Among High School Seniors

The University of Michigan conducts the Monitoring the Future study usually every other year, which is a look at substance abuse and other issues surrounding 8th, 10th and 12-grade students around the country.

Findings from the latest study appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics online regarding extreme binge drinking among high school seniors. According to a University press release, ten percent of seniors reported consuming 10 or more alcoholic beverages in a single episode at least once during the previous two weeks.

Additionally, five percent admitted to consuming 15 or more drinks within that same time period. This level of consumption is dangerous for any age, especially teenagers.

Study authors reported varied results in different areas including gender, ethnicity and geographic location. The highest rates of extreme binge drinking were among white males and those who were located in the Midwest.

While some people feel that type of behavior is eventually outgrown, it doesn’t negate the fact that it can be extremely harmful with all of the associated factors of heavy alcohol consumption. Repeated heavy drinking episodes also increase the changes of developing a severe alcohol use disorder that requires treatment. Many alcoholics can trace their drinking patterns back to high school.

If you know someone in need of help for alcohol abuse, contact Desert Cove Recovery today to speak with a counselor about getting into a successful treatment program.

Blake Nichols

Blake Nichols is the Director of Operations at Desert Cove Recovery. Blake battled his own addiction to drugs and alcohol and was given the gift of recovery at the age of 23. Since 2008, Blake has dedicated his life and career to the field of addiction. He has experience in all aspects of addiction treatment including direct care, admissions, marketing, and administration.

Blake feels that the greatest reward of working in the recovery field is being part of the transformation that a person goes through from the time they arrive and begin treatment, through the hard work and the Miracle of recovery, and ultimately the change into a confident and capable person ready to carry the message of recovery.

“My career has focused on serving others. I have accepted ownership of my responsibilities as that is the key to working at the highest level of professionalism. I have worked to be positive and offer solution-based suggestions in my work and personal life.”