Spokane Counts 2011 - Binge Drinking (Youth)

Binge Drinking (Youth)

Health Behavior

Indicator: Binge Drinking (Youth)

Definition: Percent of youth in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 who have had five or more drinks in a row in the last two weeks.

Why is this important: Binge drinking accounts for over 90% of alcohol consumed by people who are under the legal drinking age of 21. The effects of binge drinking among youth may include school or social problems, abuse of other drugs, and an increased risk of unintentional and intentional injury.

Where are we: In 2010 in Spokane County, 13% of adolescents reported binge drinking in the prior 2 weeks. From 2006 to 2010, there was a significant decrease in the proportion of adolescents binge drinking. The proportion of Spokane County youth who reported binge drinking was higher than that of Washington State in 2010, but lower than that of the U.S. in 2009.

Health Disparities:

Among youth in Spokane County in 2010:

Binge drinking increased as age increased.
Males were more likely to have binge drank than females.
Compared to Whites, Blacks were more likely to have binge drank and Asian/Pacific Islanders were less likely to have binge drank.
Binge drinking decreased as maternal education increased.

(click to enlarge)

	Data Source	HYS, 2010 (grade 6,8,10,12)

Geography	Spokane County	13.0% (12.3-13.7)
	WA	12.4% (12.1-12.7)
	U.S.	24.2%

	Trend	06-10 Decrease

Age	6th grade	3.7% (2.8-4.8)
	8th grade	8.5% (7.6-9.4)
	10th grade	18.9% (17.4-20.5)
	12th grade	24.8% (23.0-26.7)

Sex	Male	13.8% (12.8-14.8)
	Female	12.3% (11.4-13.2)

Race	White	12.8% (12.0-13.6)
	Black	22.9% (18.3-28.1)
	NAAN	13.6% (10.3-17.8)
	API	9.4% (6.9-12.7)
	Other	13.8% (11.9-16.1)

Education*	< High school	25.4% (22.1-29.0)
	High school	18.2% (16.3-20.3)
	Some college	16.2% (14.6-18.0)
	College graduate	13.4% (12.1-14.7)

* Education reflects the mother's highest education level

Data Source: Health Youth Survey. Washington State Department of Health. Calculations and presentation of data by Spokane Regional Health District, Community Health Assessment.

Spokane Regional Health District · Community Health Assessment · 1101 W College Ave, Room 360, Spokane, WA 99201
509.323.2853 | FAX 509.232.1706 | TDD 509.324.1464 · www.srhd.org/spokanecounts