Changes in Adolescent Binge Drinking between 2007 to 2017: A Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) study

Abstract

Background: Youth binge drinking is a major issue within the United States with consequences including drinking and driving, risky sexual behavior, victimization defined as being physically or verbally victimized at school or home and adverse hormonal function. The objective of this study was to assess the change in adolescent binge drinking between 2007 and 2017. Methods: The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is a cross-sectional questionnaire conducted annually to examine self-reported youth risk behaviors. The current study focuses on risk factors for binge drinking as well as change in youth binge drinking between the 2007 and 2017 YRBS surveys. The YRBS is administered to all students within YRBS preselected districts and to standardize variation in Race and Ethnicity, gender, and grade between the 62 high school districts. The primary research outcome was binge drinking classified as a respondent who answered yes to Have you had more than 5 drinks during one drinking session in the past 30 days. The 10 year difference in frequency of demographic and risk behavior questions including alcohol consumption, physical activity, <5 hours sleep, trying cigarettes, trying various drugs and feeling sad or hopeless were calculated for total survey respondents and respondents who self-classified as binge drinkers in each year. A chi-squared analysis was used to assess the probability of association between binge drinking and demographic groups or survey questions within a the YRBS sampled population. Finally, an adjusted logistic regression was used to model whether binge drinking was statistically associated with year surveyed. Results: The difference in frequency of binge drinking within the past 30 days was 26% in 2007 versus 13.5% among 2017 survey respondents, which represents a >48% decrease between samples. The survey results showed a 33% reduction in students who reported trying alcohol and a 20% reduction in trying alcohol before age 13. A univariate analysis of other risk behavior questions with a statistically significant change over 10 years included a decrease in the use of cigarettes, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs surveyed. There has also been a 33% increase in feelings of sadness or hopelessness between the surveyed populations. Discussion: The current study supports research demonstrating a reduction in binge drinking among U.S. youth. Overall, high school students reported to be engaging less in drug and alcohol-related risk factors. The hypothesized reasons for this reduction include better legal enforcement of vendors and venues, rise of new technology of the internet and social media that provide alternative sources of entertainment, a decreased glamorization of alcohol consumption and the development of other ways to spent time.

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