title: Intensity of Binge Drinking a Decade After the September 11th Terror Attacks Among Exposed Individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center resulted in elevated post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use among exposed individuals. The relationship among traumatic exposure, PTSD, and excessive drinking is well documented; however, little is known about these relationships in the long term. This study examines factors increasing binge drinking risk among exposed individuals a decade post-9/11.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2015-2016, data were analyzed from 28,592 World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees aged ≥18 years who completed the Wave 3 (2011-2012) survey. Women comprised 38.9% of participants. Binge drinking in the last 30 days was categorized as low (men, five to seven drinks; women, four to six drinks) or high intensity (men, eight or more drinks; women, seven or more drinks). Probable 9/11-related PTSD was defined as scoring ≥44 on the PTSD Checklist. Exposures to 9/11 (e.g., witnessing horror, sustaining an injury) were categorized as none/low (zero to two) or high (three or more).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Binge drinking was reported by 24.7% of participants, of whom 36.9% reported high-intensity binge drinking. Compared with non-binge drinkers, the odds of low- and high-intensity binge drinking were greater among enrollees who were male, aged 18-34 years, non-Hispanic white, had income >$75,000, were rescue/recovery workers, had high 9/11 exposure, or 9/11-related PTSD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observed associations among traumatic exposure, PTSD, and excessive drinking underscore the need for improved therapies addressing excessive drinking and PTSD concurrently, inclusion of repeated post-event screening for excessive drinking, and evidence-based population-level interventions to reduce alcohol consumption.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York. Electronic address: awelch1@health.nyc.gov.
authors.forename: Alice E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Caramanica Zweig
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York.
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McAteer
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York.
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Brackbill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult