Adolescent Substance Abuse Articles
Binge drinking common in rural and urban settings
By Staff Writer
Though most incidences of binge drinking are not related to an addiction to alcohol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this behavioral pattern is still associated with a number of health problems. New research on teenage drinking patterns shows that binge drinking is as prevalent in rural areas as it in urban settings, if not more.
A study, which was conducted by a researcher from the Psychiatric University Clinic Erlamgen, examined the drinking patterns of over 44,000 15 and 16 year olds in Germany. Findings showed that the assumption that excessive drinking was only associated with towns and cities might be wrong.
Of the study participants who had tried alcohol, more than 93 percent came from the rural areas while over 86 percent were from urban areas. In the month prior to the research, 78 percent of rural participants had engaged in binge drinking behavior and 74 percent of city-residents had done the same.
For the researcher, these findings provide evidence that binge drinking affects teenagers no matter where they live. In addition, consuming alcohol at a young age can have an impact on one's school performance, safety or require them to seek substance abuse help.
