The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #44115

David E. Nelson, MD, MPH¹, Julie C Bolen, PhD, MPH², Robert Brewer, MD, MSPH³, Tim Naimi³, and Henry E. Wells, MS⁴. (1) Health Communication and Informatics Research Branch, National Cancer Institute, 6130 Executive Blvd., Room 4068, MSC 7365, Bethesda, MD 20892-7365, 301 594 9904, nelsond@mail.nih.gov, (2) Health Care and Aging Studies Branch, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, K-47, Atlanta, GA 30341, (3) Division of Adult and Community Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mailstop K-47, Atlanta, GA 30341, (4) Research Triangle Institute, 2951 Flowers Rd. South, Suite 119, Atlanta, GA 30341

Alcohol use causes approximately 100,000 deaths annually in the U.S. Binge drinking is a particularly hazardous pattern of alcohol consumption that causes a substantial fraction of alcohol-related deaths. Data from CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System from 1997-1999 were reweighted by metropolitan area for adults, and used to estimate current alcohol use (any drinking in the past month) and binge drinking (5+ drinks on at least one occasion in the past month). We found marked differences in current alcohol use, with estimates ranging from 11.6% in Provo, UT to 74.5% in Madison, WI. Intra-state differences in current use were common, as there were significant differences by metropolitan area in 23 states. Binge drinking also varied widely regionally and within states. Estimates ranged from 9.3% in New York, NY to 20.1% in Springfield, MA in the Northeast; from 7.4% in Youngstown, OH to 29.6% in Iowa City, IA in the Midwest; from 4.4% in Chattanooga, TN to 24.4% in El Paso, TX in the South; and from 4.6% in Provo, UT to 22.5% in Missoula, MT in the West. Statistically significant differences between metropolitan areas occurred in 10 states for binge drinking. Further analyses by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education are planned for the 25 largest areas. Variability of current and binge drinking estimates among metropolitan areas across regions and even within states suggests that metropolitan-specific alcohol surveillance is a useful complement to state estimates. These data will be useful to government agencies and advocacy organizations for targeting local alcohol control efforts.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Recognize that Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data are valuable for monitoring the prevalence of alcohol use at the metropolitan level.
• 2. Understand the range and variability of estimates for current alcohol use and binge drinking across metropolitan areas.
• 3. Consider utilizing BRFSS data for targeting prevention efforts toward high risk geographic areas and subpopulations within metropolitan areas.

Keywords: Binge Drinking, Surveillance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.