The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a new study showing that binge drinking is strongly associated with the use of other substances. The study, using data from the 2016-2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), found that almost one in four people who binge drank also reported using other substances in the past month, and people who binge drank were twice as likely to use other substances as non-binge drinkers. The study also noted that, among people who binge drank, other substance use was most common among males, young people aged 12-17, non-Hispanic black people, people with an annual household income of less than $20,000, and people living in large metropolitan counties. Finally, the study found that individuals who binge drank were twice as likely to report prescription opioid misuse while drinking alcohol compared to people who did not binge drink.
- Ann Tucker