Factors associated with binge drinking in California: Findings from the California Health Interview Survey, 2001


Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

3321.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - Board 1

Abstract #111576

David J. Reynen, MPH, MPPA, California Department of Health Services, Chronic Disease Epidemiology and Control Section, 1616 Capitol Avenue, Suite 74.317, MS 7212, P.O. Box 997413, Sacramento, CA 95899-7413, (916) 552-9882, DReynen@dhs.ca.gov, Krista J. Kotz, PhD, MPH, Kotz Health Policy Consulting, 174 Glorietta Boulevard, Orinda, CA 94563, and John H. Kurata, PhD, MPH, Center for Health Policy Research, University of California at Los Angeles, 10911 Weyburn Avenue, Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90024.

Background: Healthy People 2010 calls for a reduction in the proportion of adults who engage in the binge drinking (5+ drinks on one occasion) of alcoholic beverages. To this end, it is critical to study the populations that engage in such behavior. Therefore, this study describes those factors associated with binge drinking among adults responding to the 2001 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).

Methods: Using the CHIS data: (1) Adults aged 18+ who reported alcohol consumption were classified as (a) those who had had at least one episode of binge drinking in the past month and (b) those who had not. (2) Age-adjusted prevalence estimates were determined. (3) Via logistic regression, factors associated with binge drinking were described.

Results: Of the 14 million California adults who reported alcohol consumption (59% of the population), 24.7% (95%CI: 24.1%-25.4%, age-adjusted) report binge drinking. Prevalence estimates are higher for Pacific Islanders (43.3%), American Indians (34.9%), and Latinos (30.7%), and the prevalence in men (33.1%) is considerably higher than it is in women (14.0%). Preliminary results suggest the following factors are associated with binge drinking, while controlling for age and race/ethnicity: male (Odds Ratio = 3.33, 95% CI=3.06-3.62); smoker (2.50, 2.29-2.73); education (some post-secondary vs. ≤HS grad: 1.36, 1.25-1.47); no medical home (1.35, 1.22-1.50); being foreign-born (1.34, 1.19-1.51); being physically active (1.27, 1.10-1.46); not feeling calm (1.18, 1.03-1.35); and feeling downhearted (1.15, 1.04-1.27).

Conclusions: Understanding these factors may allow for the development of programs and policies focused on reducing binge drinking behaviors among California adults.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, a member of the audience will be able to do the following

1. Appreciate the extent to which adult Californians who drink alcohol engage in binge drinking behaviors, as presented in this paper.
2. List factors associated with binge drinking, among California’s adult population, as presented in this paper.
3. Discuss how the information concerning binge drinking and its associated factors, as presented in this paper, might be used in control and prevention efforts.

Keywords: Binge Drinking,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Alcohol Consumption Distributions: Interventions and Policies Poster Session

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA