One in 10 High School Seniors Indulge in Extreme Binge Drinking Sessions

A recent study conducted by the University of Michigan (U-M) finds that 10 percent of high school seniors indulge in extreme binge drinking, which includes consuming 10 or more alcoholic beverages in a single sitting.

The researchers used a nationally representative sample of more than 16,000 high school seniors, analyzed over a span of six years, between 2005 and 2011 as a part of the annual Future Study. The study was conducted by the U-M Institute for Social Research.

"More than one in 10 high school seniors had 10 or more drinks in a row and more than one in 20 had 15 or more drinks in a row at least once in the last two weeks," Megan Patrick, the lead author of the study,  stated in a press release.

This study examined two reported conflicting trends; one that binge drinking has declined among youngsters and the other a noticeable rise in medical emergencies involving teen alcohol usage.

The high school seniors were asked: "During the last two weeks, how many times (if any) have you had five (10, 15) or more drinks in a row?"

Where one drink was defined as: bottle of beer or a 12-ounce can or; a 4-ounce glass of wine; a 12-ounce bottle or can of wine cooler; or a mixed drink, shot glass of liquor or the equivalent.

The researchers found a significant difference in the rates of heavy drinking among various groups. Young men, students from rural areas and white youth were found to be involved in excessive drinking. Adolescents from the Midwest were found to be more involved in binge drinking than students from other regions.

"Alcohol use among adolescents is an enduring public health problem, and our findings regarding the rates of extreme binge drinking are particularly alarming," Patrick said.

"We hope that this study is helpful in drawing attention to the extent of extreme binge drinking among our nation's high school seniors," Patrick concluded.

This study has been published online in JAMA Pediatrics.