While recent studies have associated low to moderate alcohol consumption with a lower risk for coronary heart disease, heavy alcohol consumption is associated with many health-related problems that affect individuals, families, and communities at large. These include motor vehicle crashes, falls, drowning, suicide, alcohol poisoning, cardiovascular disease, fetal abnormalities, and violence. Heavy alcohol consumption can harm the body’s organ systems and lead to a variety of medical problems. It also can affect work and school performance, and affect family interactions.
This indicator can give us an idea of how pervasive the problem of heavy drinking is in Chelan and Douglas Counties, the state, and the nation. Public agencies such as the police department and schools can use this indicator to make decisions regarding educating the public, both youth and adults, about the dangers of excessive alcohol use. In the case of the indicator showing a high percentage, it could be used to get additional funding for alcohol treatment programs.
Binge drinking, for purposes of this indicator, is generally defined as consuming "5 drinks for men and 4 drinks for women on one occasion".
This indicator measures the share of adults in Walla Walla County who have reported binge or excessive drinking on at least one occasion within the past 30 days. Washington State is offered as a benchmark.