An average night on the town may consist of a couple cocktails, a few beers and maybe one or two shots.
But according to the Centers for Disease Control, the average bar hop could be considered a night of binge drinking, a health problem the CDC says is getting worse.
A binge drinker is defined as a man who consumes at least five alcoholic drinks in a short period of time or a woman who consumes at least four, according to the CDC. While binge drinking has been recognized as a nationwide problem in past years, the CDC says the number of binge drinkers is climbing.
More than 38 million U.S. adults binge drink an average of four times a month, consuming an average of eight drinks during a large binge, the CDC says.
The age group that boasts the most reported binge drinkers are 18- to 34-year-olds.
That means college students are binge drinking more.
The CDC also reports that 90 percent of young people’s alcohol consumption can be classified as binge drinking.
History senior Bennett Koerber said though he only drinks casually, he does think drinking too much is a problem at the University.
“It’s definitely not healthy,” Koerber said.
The majority of students binge drink at bars, said Kimberly Ulasiewicz, international studies and French senior. But she said the severity of the problem varies from person to person.
Julie Hupperich, associate director of the Student Health Center, said in an e-mail to The Daily Reveille that the University is no exception to the binge drinking trend plaguing college campuses.
The CDC’s findings are not surprising, but they underscore a larger problem, she said.
Hupperich said the 2011 “Core Alcohol and Drug Survey” claimed 50 percent of students surveyed had indulged in binge drinking some time during the two weeks prior to taking the survey. The survey incorporates not only findings at LSU, but at universities across the nation.
“Certainly, high-risk drinking is a health issue that commands attention, especially in the college population,” Hupperich said.
The Student Health Center’s main alcohol awareness program is the MyStudentBody Essentials Course, a required online session for incoming freshmen that teaches safe drinking habits and advocates public policies.
DeShea Smith, accounting senior, said binge drinking is a widespread problem, but a solution is hard to find, especially in a state like Louisiana where drinking is cultural.
The CDC also reported a low average of binge drinking adults in Louisiana, but Louisiana drinkers consume higher amounts of alcohol than drinkers in other states when binge drinking.
“It’s hard to find a solution because binge drinking is more of a norm than not. It’s hard to change people’s minds,” Smith said.
She said people do not realize the consequences of heavy drinking.
“You lose control of your mind and your body, and that’s when you make poor decisions,” Smith said.
Hupperich said the SHC continually searches for new outreach methods.
“Most recently, we are exploring ways to increase support and resources for students in recovery and working on creating new opportunities with campus partners,” Hupperich said.
 
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Contact Brian Sibille at [email protected]