Binge drinking among California adults: results from the 2005 California Health Interview Survey.
OBJECTIVE
To calculate binge drinking rates among California adults and describe the characteristics of female and male binge drinkers.


METHODS
Analyses of 2005 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) data.


RESULTS
At least one binge drinking episode over a 30-day period was reported by 1.4 million California women (10.7% of all adult women) and 3.2 million California men (24.7%). For both women and men, factors associated with binge drinking included being 18-44 years of age, smoking, and having mid-range psychological distress scores. There were gender differences in binge drinking risk by race/ethnicity and health status.


CONCLUSIONS
Binge drinking is a serious public health concern that affects millions of adult Californians [corrected].
Banta
Jim E
JE
Department of Health Policy and Managment, Loma Linda University School of Public Health, Loma Linda, California 92354, USA. jbanta@llu.edu
Przekop
Peter
P
Haviland
Mark G
MG
Pereau
Melissa
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002140:California; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044469:Racial Groups; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult