title: Trends in binge and heavy drinking, alcohol-related problems, and combat exposure in the U.S. military.
abstract: Population-based Department of Defense health behavior surveys were examined for binge and heavy drinking among U.S. active duty personnel. From 1998-2008, personnel showed significant increases in heavy drinking (15% to 20%) and binge drinking (35% to 47%). The rate of alcohol-related serious consequences was 4% for nonbinge drinkers, 9% for binge drinkers, and 19% for heavy drinkers. Personnel with high combat exposure had significantly higher rates of heavy (26.8%) and binge (54.8%) drinking than their counterparts (17% and 45%, respectively). Heavy and binge drinking put service members at high risk for problems that diminish force readiness and psychological fitness.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice Research Division, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA. rmb@rti.org
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bray
authors.forename: Janice M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology