State's women lead nation in dubious honor

Think of excessive drinking and the image of young frat boys chugging beer, or an older alcoholic man stumbling out of the bar and into the car, only to find himself in big trouble because of a driving while intoxication charge, or worse -- killing himself or someone else.

Drinking is traditionally more often a man's problem, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that stereotype isn't entirely accurate when it comes to Nebraska.

CDC data indicate that in 2011, 15.7 percent of Nebraska women age 18 or older reported binge drinking, compared to 12.5 percent nationally.

We can hear our female friends and co-workers speculating on the cause -- "That's because of Nebraska men!"

But it's no laughing matter, according to Scot L. Adams, director of the Division of Behavioral Health at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

"This is an area where we don't want to be Number One," he said. For women, the CDC considers four or more drinks during a single occasion as binge drinking. For men, it's five or more drinks.

Nebraska men are doing their bit to keep up, reporting binge drinking at 30.2 percent, a higher rate than the national average of 24.2 percent.

"For women, binge drinking is especially concerning because it increases the risk for breast cancer, heart disease and stroke -- leading causes of death in women -- as well as other health problems," said Dr. Joseph Acierno, Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Division of Public Health.

"Binge drinking isn't healthy on many levels. There's a risk of alcoholism," Adams said. "There's a risk of drunk driving. There's a risk of social behaviors you don't want to face the next day."

Added to the penchant for heart disease to be under-diagnosed in women, excessive alcohol is a poor choice for women.

The Division of Behavioral Health funds community coalitions in Nebraska to combat underage and binge drinking, as well as drunk driving and prescription drug abuse.

Strategies include responsible beverage server training, education in schools and media campaigns designed to raise awareness, and change social norms.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month.

If you believe you, a friend or loved one has a drinking problem, call the Nebraska Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Line at (800) 648-4444 or the National Treatment Referral Hotline at (800) 662-4357.