CDC Reports Binge Drinking A 'Huge Health Problem'

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Binge drinking, defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is drinking 5 or more drinks for men and for women, drinking 4 or more drinks during a short period of time. A new CDC report out this month shows binge drinking is a dangerous behavior for all ages including teens.

The report found that about 2 out of 3 high school students who drink alcohol admitted to binge drinking during the past month alone.

The findings were not surprising to Bryce Templeton who is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Drexel University, a volunteer with the organization, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and a father who lost his son to a drunk driver.

"My wife woke me up 20 minutes after 4 in the morning and said I think there's someone knocking at the door. That experience of having to come down and having to greet two police officers to tell you about that. That was devastating," Templeton said.

Templeton's son, Jim, was 33-years-old and a fourth year medical student pursuing family medicine. Jim was killed in 1996.

Templeton said he has since turned grief, in part, to public advocacy.

"The evidence is overwhelming that talking with your kids about alcohol, that parents do have an impact," Templeton explained.

As a Drexel professor and M.A.D.D. volunteer, Templeton shares that message with students and especially parents.

"They have to express their concern about alcohol, and say that we don't want you involved in dangerous situations, not everyone does drink," Templeton added parents with younger children should ask questions, "How many of your friends are drinking now? Sometimes kids are willing to give third party information about what's happening among their peers rather than talk about themselves."

For more information about Binge Drinking and Underage Drinking, check out the following links:

http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/BingeDrinking/index.html

http://www.madd.org/underage-drinking/the-power-of-parents/

Reported By Elizabeth Hur, CBS 3