Correlation of State Estimates for Binge Drinking among High School Students and Adults, 1993-2005

Binge drinking is an especially hazardous alcohol consumption pattern that is associated with numerous adverse health events, such as injury, unintended pregnancy, and alcohol poisoning; estimates of this risk behavior vary widely across states. A recent study in the American Journal of Public Health found a strong correlation between binge drinking among college students and state binge drinking estimates among all adults. It is unknown, however, to what extent state estimates of binge drinking among high school students and adults are correlated, i.e., from a population-based and broader environmental perspective, might adolescents model adult binge drinking behavior. We analyzed biennial data from 1993-2005 using the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) for students in grades 9-12, and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for adults aged 18 years or older. The number of states available for analysis in each year ranged from 29 to 40. There was a strong overall correlation between high school student and adult state binge drinking estimates (average Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.39, range: 0.16-0.64). The correlation was stronger for population-based estimates for girls and women (average correlation coefficient = 0.45) than for boys and men (average correlation coefficient = 0.28). Further correlation analyses are planned for binge drinking estimates by race/ethnicity, adult age groups, and geographic regions. The possible impact of state alcohol control policies on correlations will also be examined. Potential explanations and implications for addressing binge drinking and alcohol control will be discussed.