This past Wednesday September 28, Dr. Dana Litt of the University of Washington Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors discussed the role of social media on alcohol use in adolescents in a talk titled “Pictures of Last Night Ended Up Online: Social Networking Sites and Alcohol Use” (a play on the lyrics from a Katy Perry song). According to Dr. Litt, 75% of drinking in the USA is done in heavy episodic drinking (formerly known as binge drinking). The percentage is trending upwards, with women under the age of 25 being the fastest growing group. Dr. Litt discussed her research finding ways to explore the influences of social media on drinking and possible ways to lower heavy drinking in at risk populations.

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