Early Binge Drinking tied to Early Health Risks
... Constant binge drinking also has immediate health effects such as sleep disturbances, and impaired mental functioning. The test group for these findings were 808 Seattle school students whose drinking, and smoking habits were detailed. Students were interviewed between 13 and 16 and again at 18, 21, and 24. When they were 24 the participants who had their blood pressure checked were asked about other health conditions such as arthritis, and high cholesterol. In this study binge drinking was defined as five or more drinks in a row. Seventy percent of the students in the study rarely or never went binge drinking. An additional one quarter that started binge drinking after 16, at age 24 were more likely to drive drunk, and had higher rates of illness the previous year. Three percent of studen...