Definition

Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who reported binge drinking during the 30 days prior to the survey.

Numerator

Number of survey respondents (weighted) who reported binge drinking during the 30 days prior to the survey.

Denominator

Total number of survey respondents (weighted), excluding those with missing, "Don't know/Not sure" or "Refused" responses.

Data Interpretation Issues

Starting in 2011, BRFSS protocol requires that the NJBRFS incorporate a fixed quota of interviews from cell phone respondents along with a new weighting methodology called iterative proportional fitting or "raking". The new weighting methodology incorporates additional demographic information (such as education, race, and marital status) in the weighting process. These methodological changes were implemented to account for the underrepresentation of certain demographic groups in the land line sample (which resulted in part from the increasing number of U.S. households without land line phones). Comparisons between 2011 and prior years should therefore be made with caution. (More details about these changes can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6122a3.htm.)

Why Is This Important?

Binge drinking is an indicator of potentially serious alcohol abuse, and is related to driving under the influence of alcohol. It is a problem nationally, especially among males and young adults. Alcohol abuse is strongly associated with injuries and violence, chronic liver disease, fetal alcohol syndrome, and risk of other acute and chronic health conditions.

Healthy People Objective: Reduce the proportion of persons engaging in binge drinking during the past month--Adults aged 18 years and older

U.S. Target: 24.4 percent

How Are We Doing?

In New Jersey, the estimated percentage of adults who reported binge drinking in the past 30 days in 2020 was 15.2%. The binge drinking rate is highest among Whites (16.7%), followed by Hispanics (16.0%), Blacks (12.7%), and Asians (8.6%).

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

Estimates from 2020 showed similar estimated prevalence of reported binge drinking for U.S. (15.7%) and New Jersey adults (15.2%) (crude rates).

Available Services

The New Jersey Department of Human Services, [https://nj.gov/humanservices/dmhas/home/ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services] offers prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery services. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a toll-free referral helpline -- 1-800-662-HELP (4357) -- and a [http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ Treatment Services Locator].

Health Care System Factors

Since November 2018, the USPSTF^1^ has recommended screening for unhealthy alcohol use in primary care settings in adults 18 years or older and providing persons engaged in risky or hazardous drinking with brief behavioral counseling interventions to reduce unhealthy alcohol use. 1. United States Preventive Services Task Force. [https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/UpdateSummaryFinal/unhealthy-alcohol-use-in-adolescents-and-adults-screening-and-behavioral-counseling-interventions Unhealthy Alcohol Use in Adolescents and Adults: Screening and Behavioral Counseling Interventions.] [last reviewed: 1/21/20]

Risk Factors

Binge drinking is more common among males and young adults in New Jersey Note: Custom data views of the prevalence of both [https://www-doh.state.nj.us/doh-shad/query/builder/njbrfs/AlcoholBinge/AlcoholBingeCrude11_.html binge] and [https://www-doh.state.nj.us/doh-shad/query/builder/njbrfs/AlcoholChrnHvy/AlcoholChrnHvyCrude11_.html chronic heavy] drinking among New Jersey adults by selected '''sociodemographic and other characteristics''' can be generated using the New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey interactive query module.

Health Status Outcomes

Binge drinking is associated with motor vehicle and other unintentional injury deaths.

Data Notes

A drink of alcohol is 1 can or bottle of beer, 1 glass of wine, 1 can or bottle of wine cooler, 1 cocktail, or 1 shot of liquor. Starting in 2006, the definition of binge drinking changed to consuming five or more drinks on an occasion for men, or four or more drinks on an occasion for women one or more times during the past 30 days.   ** No data available for 2019.

Data Notes

A drink of alcohol is 1 can or bottle of beer, 1 glass of wine, 1 can or bottle of wine cooler, 1 cocktail, or 1 shot of liquor. Starting in 2006, the definition of binge drinking changed to consuming five or more drinks on an occasion for men, or four or more drinks on an occasion for women one or more times during the past 30 days.   ** No data available for 2019.

Data Source

Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health, [http://www.state.nj.us/health/chs/njbrfs/]

Data Notes

A drink of alcohol is 1 can or bottle of beer, 1 glass of wine, 1 can or bottle of wine cooler, 1 cocktail, or 1 shot of liquor. Starting in 2006, the definition of binge drinking changed to consuming five or more drinks on an occasion for men, or four or more drinks on an occasion for women one or more times during the past 30 days.   *2019 data is not included in the average estimated prevalence. No data is available for 2019.

Data Source

Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health, [http://www.state.nj.us/health/chs/njbrfs/]

Data Notes

A drink of alcohol is 1 can or bottle of beer, 1 glass of wine, 1 can or bottle of wine cooler, 1 cocktail, or 1 shot of liquor. Starting in 2006, the definition of binge drinking changed to consuming five or more drinks on an occasion for men, or four or more drinks on an occasion for women one or more times during the past 30 days.   *2019 data is not included in the average estimated prevalence. No data is available for 2019.

Data Source

Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health, [http://www.state.nj.us/health/chs/njbrfs/]

Data Notes

A drink of alcohol is 1 can or bottle of beer, 1 glass of wine, 1 can or bottle of wine cooler, 1 cocktail, or 1 shot of liquor. Starting in 2006, the definition of binge drinking changed to consuming five or more drinks on an occasion for men, or four or more drinks on an occasion for women one or more times during the past 30 days.   *2019 data is not included in the average estimated prevalence. No data is available for 2019.

Data Source

Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health, [http://www.state.nj.us/health/chs/njbrfs/]

References and Community Resources

National Institutes of Health: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: [www.niaaa.nih.gov] CDC National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Alcohol and Public Health: [http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/]