The major focus of this article is
how binge drinking affects ages 18-24 holding a responsibility for more than
half of the estimated 23,000 deaths and many years of potential life lost among
women and girls. Statistics were monitored and analyzed by the BRFSS and YRBS.
BRFSS or Behavioral Risk Factor Survey is an annual state based telephone
survey that is done randomly for any civilian that is an adult over the age of
18. It determines the prevalence, frequency and intensity of this main issue.
On the other hand, YRBS or Youth Risk Behavior Survey measures the alcohol
consumption/use and binge drinking at 158 schools in the United States from
grades ninth to twelfth. Based on there statistics, it was shown that in the
BRFSS the highest frequency and intensities were shown between ages 18 to 24 as
well as 25 to 34. On the YRBS the “Hispanic (22.4%) and non-Hispanic white
(21.7%) high school girls had a higher occurrence of binge drinking than
non-Hispanic black girls (10.3%).” Also it was shown that 9th
graders to 12th graders , respectively, a 45.2% to 61.7%. Even though
they are some limitations on the into this statistics, it gave the readers a well
understanding of what is happening to excessive/abusive alcohol usage. Even
though this is a survey and it won’t have accurate numbers for specific
populations, it will however, let us know that it is a big issue for the female
gender. Alcohol, as it is well known, it's the third most abusive behavior in
the United States that can lead to any health issues.
Binge
drinking among women and young girls is an issue for public health. It affects
women in every way as it was said in the article “affect women's reproductive health by increasing the risk for acquiring
human immunodeficiency virus and other sexually transmitted infections,
unintended pregnancy, miscarriage, and low birth weight…” and there is more
to come for them. Alcohol’s effects causes health issues such as liver disease,
hypertension, heart disease, stroke and other.
The
results that were shown in this article, it wasn’t a surprise. Young girls
around the grades 9th and 12th are looking for acceptance
and attention from other people that surround them. If they don’t have the
attention from their parents or any guardian/mentor or guy, they will
eventually go into binge drinking. Binge drinking for young girls is an escape
of the world that surrounds them or is a way to get a parents or boy’s
attention. For women between the ages of 18 to 24, they might be seeing alcohol
for the first time if they are going into college or any different environment.
Also no parent is under the roof to tell them not to do it, so they get easily
peer pressured. These young girls are independent and they are known as adults.
Women between the ages of 25 to 34 are seeking an escape to any issue that they
might have at home or they are still seeking for attention.
How
to reduce binge drinking? It all has to start with more communication in the
household. Parents should be more open to their children about the alcohol
consumption and let them know the consequences. Yes, alcohol will be seen in
mostly every social event that young girls or women go to, but binge drinking
can be avoided. Showing young girls tutorials, or any lecture given by any
mentor/guardian to discuss any issues that they might have, and other will help
them understand the issue of binge drinking. Also reinforce alcohol's advertisement the legal age and the “drink safely” policy. Also reinforce and talk about health issues that are some irreversible that binge drinking causes to these young girls and women leading them to death. Young girls and women should be told that it is not needed for every social
event and it will only get worse if they keep on binge drinking. The main focus
is to help those young girls and woman. There’s no need to drink heavily,
because the only one who are getting penalized and are at risk are them.
