Deaths most common for middle-aged bingers.

• Position: Alcohol Poisoning - Brief article

More than 2,200 people die from alcohol poisoning each year in the U.S.--an average of six deaths a day-according to a the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga. Three in four alcohol poisoning deaths involve adults ages 35-64 years, and most deaths occur among men and non-Hispanic whites. American Indians/Alaska Natives have the most alcohol poisoning deaths per 1,000,000 people.

Alcohol poisoning deaths are caused by drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time. This results in very high levels of alcohol in the body, which can shut down critical areas of the brain that control breathing, heart rate, and body temperature--resulting in death.

More than 38,000,000 adults report binge drinking an average of four times per month and consume an average of eight drinks per binge. Binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men on an...