In the most recent New York State (NYS) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 25% of adults in Madison County reported binge drinking (compared to 18% of NYS adults). Binge drinking is defined as the consumption of 5 or more alcoholic drinks within a short period of time for men and the consumption of 4 or more within a short period of time for women.
Youth Alcohol Use
In the 2018 Madison County Teen Assessment Project (TAP) Report, 42% of high school students have used alcohol; up from 36% in 2014.
Alcohol & Pregnancy
No amount of alcohol is considered safe to consume while pregnant. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy affects the development of babies’ brains, bodies, and organs. The range of lifelong physical, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities that may occur as a result of alcohol consumption is referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).
Data on alcohol consumption among pregnant women in Madison County is currently unavailable. In a national study conducted by the CDC, approximately 14% of pregnant women drank at least one alcoholic beverage during their pregnancy and nearly 5% reported binge drinking (4 or more alcoholic beverages in a 2-3 hour timeframe).
Health Effects
There are immediate health consequences to alcohol consumption, including motor vehicle collisions. There has been a downward trend in alcohol-related motor vehicle injuries and deaths. The percentage of driving deaths that involve alcohol are about the same for Madison County and New York State residents (21%).