Overall, 44 percent of U.S. college students engage in binge drinking.   For men, binge drinking is defined as having five or more drinks in a row, and for women, as having four or more drinks in a row.

In a survey conducted on binge drinking and college students, www.resnet.ucsb.edu states that drinking patterns are established in high school and become more frequent throughout college.  Compared to other students, college students who were binge drinkers in high school were almost three times more likely to be binge drinkers in college.

”I have worked at this facility for 17 years now and from my experience here, I would say that more than 60% of our injuries are from drinking related incidents,” said Susie Webber of Magee Rehabilitation Hospital located in Pennsylvania.

This survey also concluded that being white, involved in athletics, or a member of a fraternity or sorority made it more likely that a student would be a binge drinker.   This is, however, not a fact but only a result from a college survey.

“When I was in school, I always saw kids binging, especially on the weekends.  Sometimes many bad things occurred because of it," said Kimberly Casoly, a former Buffalo State College student.

The more drinks consumed, the greater the potential for problems at home, at work, with friends, and even with strangers. These problems may include:

• arguments with or separation from your spouse and other family members
     
• strained relationships with coworkers
     
• absence from or lateness to work with increasing frequency
     
• loss of employment due to decreased productivity
     
• committing or being the victim of violence
  

Drinking too heavily may cause certain diseases that include: 

• alcohol-related liver disease,
• heart disease,
• cancer
• pancreatitis.