A recently released study suggests binge drinking is more prevalent on college campuses than previously thought.

The national study, conducted by the Prevention Research Center of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, found that as much as 10 percent of college drinkers consume 12 or more drinks in one sitting at least once in a one-month period.

The study also concludes that nearly 5 percent of college drinkers may have consumed 24 or more drinks in at least one sitting during a month period.

Although the study indicates that the quantity of alcoholic consumption around the nation is going up, a recently released ISU survey shows that the amounts have stayed roughly the same during the past four years.

The 2003 Iowa State University Student Alcohol Survey shows that less than half of those ISU students who drink alcohol partake in high-risk and binge drinking on a regular basis.

The survey shows that nearly 73 percent of ISU students drank alcohol in the 30 days before the survey and 41.5 percent partook in high-risk drinking behaviors at least once in the previous two weeks.

Sixty-four percent of the students who have engaged in high-risk drinking were male; 36 percent were female.

The survey was compiled by Sara Kellogg, program coordinator for substance abuse prevention, and Brian Dunn, a former Thielen Student Health Center staff member.

The survey was sent out to 2,500 ISU students, and 1,352 of them were returned.

Binge or high-risk drinking is defined as consuming more than four drinks in one sitting for females and more than six drinks in one sitting for males, said Martha Norton, program coordinator for student counseling services. She said a drink is considered one beer, one shot or one glass of wine.

Norton said binge drinking is a dangerous practice.

“Alcohol is ultimately a poison,” Norton said. “You are pushing your system to accept more.”

She said as the body’s tolerance rises, the body accepts more alcohol, and eventually, it will shut down.

Blood Alcohol Content wheels, which use weight, time and amount of consumption, can be used to estimate a person’s blood alcohol content.

The wheels estimate that a person who consumes 24 or more drinks in a five-hour period would lead to a high blood alcohol content and ultimately alcohol poisoning.

For males who weigh 180 pounds, consuming at least 24 drinks during a five-hour period, would cause an estimated blood alcohol level between .425 and .45. For females who weigh 160 pounds, the same amount of alcohol would cause an estimated blood alcohol level of .60.

Jessica Starmer, senior in history, said she occasionally drinks, but does not consider herself a high-risk drinker.

“I don’t feel like I need to [drink],” Starmer said.

“It would be a sad thing if my friends had something to drink and I drank, I couldn’t give them a ride.”