from American Journal of Public Health
The percentage of Americans who drink
alcohol has remained relatively unchanged
over time, but what has changed is the
amount of alcohol consumed by those who
do drink. A study published in the
American Journal of Public Health tracked
alcohol consumption per county.
Researchers say heavy drinking has
increased sharply in the last ten years—up
more than seventeen percent. Heavy
drinking is defined as more than one drink
a day for women and two drinks per day for
men over the past month. Men showed a
five percent increase binge drinking during
that time, but binge drinking by women
jumped seventeen and one-half percent.
Binge drinking is associated with higher risk
of serious harm, such as injuries and acute
organ damage, while heavy drinking over
time risks liver damage and cardiovascular
disease.