Association between binge drinking and injury occurrence among 18 to 25 years of age student and their working peers: Findings from the national health interview survey 2006-2010

Background: Of all age groups, young adults have the highest annual rates of non-fatal injury. Excessive alcohol consumption is a well-established risk factor for injury. While the majority of young adults are not full-time students, the literature on alcohol consumption among young adults has focused predominantly on college students and seldom includes information on injury. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of injury and binge drinking among US students and working peers aged 18 to 25 and the effect of student/workers status on the association between injury and binge drinking. Methods: Using cross-sectional data from the 2006-10 National Health Interview Survey (N=11,450), we conducted weighted multivariable logistic regression to assess whether student or working status modified the association between binge drinking and medically attended injury. Results: Overall, 3.4% of both students and working peers reported an injury within the past three months. Binge drinkers had 1.5 times the odds of injury (CI=1.17-1.88) compared to non-binge drinkers among both students and working peers after adjusting for covariables. Student/worker status did not modify the relationship between binge drinking and injury. Prevalence of binge drinking was statistically significantly higher among working peers (44%) compared to students (36%). Conclusion: Among young adults aged 18-25 years, the prevalence of binge drinking was significantly higher in working peers than in full-time students. The association between binge drinking and non-fatal injury was similar in students and working peers. The results support the need for broader population-based interventions