Ten percent of high school seniors report drinking more than 10 drinks at one time, and 5.6% report drinking more than 15, according to a recent study in JAMA Pediatrics (Patrick ME et al, Online First September 16, 2013). Twenty percent reporting drinking 5+ drinks in one sitting, which is the traditional definition of “binge drinking.”

These data are a result of a nationally representative sample of high school seniors gathered as part of the annu- al Monitoring the Future study between 2005 and 2011. Use of other substances, such as cigarettes and marijuana, pre- dicted all three levels of excess drinking.