As in the United States and California, our communities are significantly affected by the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs. Not everyone chooses to drink alcohol, and of those who do, most limit their intake to amounts that produce no serious health or social consequences. Some adults, however, consume alcohol in quantities and frequencies that put them and others at risk for serious health consequences. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are responsible for increased risks of heart disease, cancer, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide. Domestic and violent crime, lost time and productivity in the work place and automobile accidents-all are affected by alcohol abuse. In Santa Barbara County, about 2/3 of adults report they consumed alcohol in the past month. This is somewhat above the rates reported for California (61%) and the nation (54%). About 9% of adults responding to the survey can be categorized as

“heavy drinkers,” a definition used by the CDC based on consuming 60 or more drinks in the prior month. A related measure is the extent of "binge drinking". Individuals are considered by the CDC as binge drinkers if they consumed five or more drinks on a single occasion, one or more times during the prior month. In Santa Barbara County, 21% of adult respondents reported such drinking. Men are much more likely than women to indulge in heavy drinking and binge drinking. For example 12% of men surveyed would be categorized as heavy drinkers, compared to about 5% of women. In terms of binge drinking, 31% of men had at least one such experience in the prior month, compared to 10% of women. It is also important to note that our youngest adults, between 18 and 20 years of age, reported the highest rates of binge drinking. This age group is legally underage to purchase or use alcohol.

While the rates of abusive drinking among adults are of concern, alcohol use in any form by our children is a serious problem. Parents reported their belief that more than 5% of children between 10 and 17 years of age used alcohol in the past month. Of even greater concern, 18.9% of boys 16 to 17 years of age were thought to have consumed alcohol in the past 30 days. Almost everybody is concerned at some level with the risks posed by drivers who are under the influence of alcohol. More than 6% of adult survey respondents admitted to driving drunk or riding with a drunk driver in the previous month. Among adults under age 30, 11% reported having done so. Without a doubt, this figure underestimates the magnitude of this problem which is unacceptably high.

Summary: Alcohol Use

• About 2/3 of adults in SB County reported they had consumed alcohol in the past month

• About 9% of adults can be considered heavy drinkers, consuming at least 60 drinks in the previous month

• Overall 21% of adults reported they had at least one episode of binge drinking (5 or more drinks on one occasion) in the past month. The rate of binge drinking was highest for adults between 18 and 20 years of age.