Healthy eating and physical activity significantly lower sex-specific alcohol-attributable liver mortality in the United States.

A Multilevel Analysis of Social Environmental Factors Related to Substance Use, Tobacco Use, and Binge Drinking Behaviors Among Older Adults.

Objectives. To examine the impact of homeownership across multiple health and behavioral domains in the United States. Methods. Using 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, I examined associations between homeownership and health across 5 domains, applying weighted logistic regression with sequential sociodemographic adjustments. Results. Among 407 916 adults representing 235 million US residents, 72.3% reported living in owner-occupied housing. Renters were significantly younger, racially diverse, and twice as likely to report low income. Compared with homeowners, renters exhibited higher health risks, reduced health care access, and lower engagement in preventive services. Renters had higher odds of current smoking (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.13, 1.21), binge drinking (AOR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.04, 1.13), poor or fair health (AOR = 1.21; 95% CI = 1.17, 1.26), and depression (AOR = 1.17; 95% CI = 1.13, 1.22) and lower odds of physical activity (AOR = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.84, 0.89). Health care access was more limited among renters, with lower odds of having health insurance (AOR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.72, 0.78) or a personal doctor (AOR = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.63, 0.68). Preventive care gaps were pronounced between the 2 groups: renters had lower odds of receiving colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy (AOR = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.71, 0.77) and routine checkups (AOR = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.74, 0.79). Conclusions. Housing tenure stratifies health. Addressing housing in prevention frameworks is essential to improving US public health. (Am J Public Health. 2026;116(1):137-147. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2025.308278).

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health measures (PHMs) potentially affected alcohol consumption. Our objectives were to evaluate if adherence to PHMs was associated with changes in alcohol consumption and binge drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted with participants (50–96 years) in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (N = 23 615). Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were estimated from multinomial logistic regression models for associations between PHM adherence (self-quarantine, attending public gatherings, leaving home, mask wearing and handwashing) and self-reported changes in alcohol consumption during the first year of the pandemic and prospectively measured changes in alcohol consumption frequency and frequency of binge-drinking events from 2015–2018 to 2020. Results During the first year of the pandemic, 13% (n = 2733) of participants self-reported increased alcohol consumption, while 13% (n = 2921) self-reported decreased consumption. Prospective measures suggested 19.1% (n = 4421) increased and 34.5% (n = 7971) decreased consumption frequency, while 12.9% (n = 1427) increased and 17.6% (n = 1953) decreased frequency of binge-drinking events. High PHM adherence, compared to low, was associated with higher odds of decreased alcohol consumption frequency (aOR = 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–1.30). No associations were observed between PHM adherence and self-reported change in alcohol consumption or frequency of binge-drinking events. Associations were consistent across socioeconomic groups. Conclusion PHM adherence was associated with decreased, and not increased, frequency of alcohol consumption by adults aged 50–96 years in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Protective Impact of Social Support on the Cascade Rates Between Internalizing Problems and Alcohol Misuse in Adolescence.

ABSTRACT Background In Peru, the HIV epidemic is primarily concentrated among men who have sex with men (MSM), with an estimated prevalence exceeding 10%. This study aimed to assess the interaction between alcohol use and suboptimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) on AIDS risk and oral health among Peruvian MSM living with HIV. Methods We recruited 398 MSM living with HIV from two urban HIV treatment clinics in Lima. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) was assessed using the standard Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). ART adherence was self-reported. AIDS risk was defined as a history of having a CD4 count below 200 cells/mm ³ . A joint model was used to estimate the association between AIDS risk and oral conditions. Independent variables included alcohol consumption (binge drink and heavy use), suboptimal ART adherence (not 100% use), and their interaction, controlling for age and education. Results Almost 53% of MSM reported that they had ever had a CD4 count lower than 200 cells/mm ³ , and 38% reported that they were not 100% adherent to ART in the past month. Additionally, 42% reported being at a hazardous or harmful level of AUD risk, with 78% being binge drinkers and 12% heavy drinkers. The interactions in the joint model indicated that suboptimal ART adherence and binge drinking are associated with an increased risk of developing AIDS (p = 0.0287), while suboptimal ART adherence and heavy drinking are associated with an increased number of self-reported oral diseases (p = 0.0231). This association also holds when modeling the two outcomes separately. Conclusions Interaction of suboptimal ART adherence and AUD is strongly associated with increased risk of AIDS and poor oral health among Peruvian MSM with HIV. Our findings support the need for longitudinal studies to better understand the complexity of alcohol consumption, ART adherence, AIDS risk, and oral diseases in this vulnerable population.

Background/Objectives: Since 1988, the IARC has classified alcohol as a type 1 carcinogen, causally linked to seven types of cancer (oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, colorectum, liver and breast carcinomas). Several agencies, such as the WHO and the IARC, hold that there is a direct monotonic association between any gram of alcohol consumed and the risk of cancer, regardless of the drinking pattern. On the other hand, an expanding body of evidence indicates that drinking pattern may substantially modify the effect of alcohol consumption. The Mediterranean alcohol-drinking pattern (MADP) includes different aspects of alcohol consumption, such as preference for red wine, moderate alcohol consumption with meals, spreading consumption over the week and avoiding binge drinking. Conformity to this pattern has shown inverse associations with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. However, its relationship with cancer incidence has not been studied yet. Our objective was to assess how alcohol consumption patterns, with particular emphasis on the MADP, relate to the incidence of the seven alcohol-related cancers. This information is needed to support cancer prevention recommendations that may go beyond the amount of alcohol consumed to also include the drinking pattern. Methods: We prospectively followed 19,541 participants in the SUN (“Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra”) cohort for a median of 13.8 years. We classified participants into four groups, namely, abstainers and three further groups according to their adherence to the MADP score (low, moderate and high). Results: A substantial reduction in the risk of alcohol-related cancer incidence was observed only in men for high versus low adherence to the MADP, with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 0.44 (95% confidence intervals (CIs) (0.21–0.92)). The category of moderate adherence to the MADP showed a lower risk of cancer incidence with a tendency towards statistical significance (HR = 0.56, 95% CI, 0.30–1.06). For women, no result reached statistical significance. Conclusions : Based on the available evidence, separate messages by sex should be delivered. In men, the association between alcohol and cancer goes beyond the amount of alcohol consumed, and a Mediterranean drinking pattern may be beneficial even for alcohol-related cancers. Men should, therefore, receive an additional message: among alcohol consumers, greater adherence to the MADP may help lower their risk of developing alcohol-related cancers. No benefit is supported for the MADP against alcohol-related cancers in women.

Research highlights a potential relationship between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and psychiatric disorders and substance use. However, the relationship between TBI and these conditions post-injury may be underestimated in many traditional research data sources (eg, health insurance claims). Nationally representative data (N=10320) from the Research and Development Survey (RANDS). Cross-sectional. Estimate the association between recent (past 12months) TBI and anxiety, depression, and binge drinking among adults and examine whether this relationship was modified by sex. An estimated 5.6% of adults reported experiencing a recent TBI. Among males, sustaining a TBI was associated with 1.6 to 2.4 times the prevalence of adverse mental health measures (anxiety [aPR=1.61, 95% CIs=1.11-2.34] and depression [aPR=2.40, 95% CIs=1.51-3.80]) compared to males without a TBI. Similarly, among females, sustaining a TBI was associated with 2.2 to 2.6 times the prevalence of anxiety (aPR=2.19, 95% CIs=1.66-2.90) and depression (aPR=2.63, 95% CIs=1.92-3.61). Results for binge drinking did not suggest a strong association with TBI for either sex; however, CIs were wide. These findings can help inform treatment and management plans for TBI patients, including potential screening and referral for mental health services among individuals who have experienced a TBI.

Animals scan their environment to detect threats. Such vigilance behaviour is costly, and animals adjust their vigilance to prevailing threats. Waterholes are dangerous places that attract predators, and require heightened vigilance. We investigated how Gouldian finches adjust their vigilance at waterholes by measuring the frequency of head movements and interscan interval while drinking. The frequency of head movements increased with increasing risk perception (a) from perching in the tree to being on the ground and (b) while drinking, with a higher frequency of movements recorded at small waterholes compared to medium and large ones. The latter adds to recent findings that small waterholes are perceived as more dangerous and require further investigation. With a predicted increase in droughts, birds will rely on small waterholes for longer during the dry season which might cause stress. Furthermore, interscan interval varied in terms of interaction with waterhole size and group size, indicating adjustments linked to perceived threat and social effects. Finally, frequency of head movements and interscan intervals were positively correlated. This might reflect different strategies to check the environment, with either a high frequency of head movements when scanning accompanied by long drinking bouts or looking in one direction for a longer time (lower vigilance) but repeating this behaviour at shorter intervals.

ABSTRACT Kazakhstan is a large Central Asian country of the former Soviet republic with a population of Kazakhstan is a large Central Asian country of the former Soviet republic with a population of nearly 21 million, the majority being Muslim with moderate religious practices. Despite considerable economic growth, significant portion of students remain pressed to address higher education and living costs. This cross-sectional study of 2065 students examined their housing condition and its association with burnout, loneliness, financial well-being, and substance use. Respondents’ mean age was 18.6 (SD = 3.2), 71.0% female and 29.0% male. Stepwise multiple regression, Pearson’s chi-squared test, the Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal—Wallis H test, t test, as well as one and two-way ANOVA were used for data analysis. Female students, and those using harmful substances, were more likely to report burnout and loneliness. Gender status did not differentiate student substance use. No significant difference was found for burnout and loneliness based on respondent housing condition. One-way ANOVA shows better financial well-being among students who live with parents/relatives; however, students who live on or off campus evidence more substance use including alcohol binge drinking. Regardless of housing conditions, the substance use among Kazakhstani students is significantly lower than that of students from many other countries. This study provides usable information for promoting psychological well-being among students in the country and elsewhere.

To assess the association between binge drinking and asthma risk across demographic and socioeconomic groups. A retrospective analysis using the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) database. Binge drinking status was the exposure variable, and asthma diagnosis was the outcome. Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics were included as covariates. Cross-tabulations, chi-squared tests, and Fisher's exact tests were conducted, results reported as odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Binge drinkers had a 5.2 % lower asthma risk (OR: 0.948, 95 % CI: 0.9245-0.9722). The greatest risk reduction was in ages 45-64 (26.8 %), while ages 18-24 had a 14.3 % increased risk (OR: 1.143). Men had 4.4 % higher asthma risk, while women had 1.1 % lower risk. Black and Hispanic binge drinkers had 8.1 and 2.3 % higher risk, while white binge drinkers had 8.4 % lower risk. Higher-income and education were linked to lower asthmarisk. Binge drinking is associated with lower asthma risk in older adults and women but higher risk in young adults and men. Further research is needed to explore mechanisms.

Serotonin (5HT) is a critical modulator of brain function and behavior that is dysregulated in alcohol use disorder (AUD). The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) play distinct roles in AUD and undergo functional changes in 5HT signaling following binge drinking, but our understanding of real-time 5HT dynamics in these structures is lacking. We hypothesized that binge drinking would elicit brain-region specific dysfunction in 5HT dynamics during appetitive and aversive stimuli processing. Using fiber photometry with the GRAB5HT sensor, we identified distinct reward and aversion 5HT signaling motifs in the ACC and CeA. Consumption of alcohol and other tastants elicited a suppression of GRAB5HT signal in the ACC and an increase in 5HT signal in the CeA. In contrast, aversive stimuli similarly increased 5HT in both structures. The effect of binge drinking on 5HT function was surprisingly non-uniform, producing brain-region, sex-, and stimulus-specific dysfunction in 5HT signaling that dramatically shifted across weeks of alcohol experience. This suggests that adaptations in 5HT signaling are specific to neural circuits underlying discrete functions. Optogenetically stimulating 5HT terminals in the ACC and CeA increased avoidance behavior without being overtly rewarding or aversive, and stimulating 5HT release in the ACC blunted alcohol drinking. Together, these data identify distinct 5HT reward and aversion signaling motifs in the ACC and CeA and highlight early binge drinking as a critical stage of 5HT adaptation and a potential window for therapeutic intervention.

ABSTRACT Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a complex brain disease with high morbidity, mortality, and limited treatment options, causing significant societal burden. Minocycline, well known for its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, could potentially treat AUD but its antimicrobial activity would be inessential, and even a liability, for long-term treatment in AUD patients. 10-Butyl Ether Minocycline (BEM) was synthesized to retain minocycline’s off-target actions and eliminate antimicrobial properties. We hypothesized that BEM would reduce high ethanol consumption in common murine models of binge drinking without affecting ethanol elimination. The Drinking-In-the-Dark (DID) paradigm was used to assess BEM’s efficacy in reducing binge-like ethanol consumption. BEM dose-responsively reduced ethanol consumption in both female and male mice. Ethanol elimination following administration of both BEM and ethanol was evaluated using gas chromatography. BEM had no effect on ethanol metabolism in either sex, suggesting that its mechanism is independent and, thus, should not exacerbate ethanol-related toxicity when the two are taken together. Previous findings showed BEM effectively reduced chronic ethanol consumption. Future studies are underway to evaluate BEM’s potential as an AUD treatment, which so far have shown BEM to be safer than minocycline and inexpensive to produce.

ABSTRACT Background: Adolescent binge drinking increases the risk of alcohol use disorder, and individual differences in initial ethanol sensitivity may predict susceptibility to anxiety-like behaviors following ethanol withdrawal in adolescent males. It is still unclear whether these anxiety-like alterations are driven by specific subpopulations. Objectives: This study examined the impact of initial responsiveness to the socially facilitating/inhibiting effects of ethanol in adolescent males on anxiety-like behavior during ethanol withdrawal. Methods: Male rats (n = 72) were divided into socially facilitated, non-responding, and socially inhibited phenotypes using a tertile split based on changes in social behavior after an acute ethanol challenge. Ethanol or water exposure occurred from P28-53. Social anxiety-like behavior was assessed during acute withdrawal from single and repeated binge episodes and during protracted abstinence. Nonsocial anxiety-like changes were also evaluated during protracted abstinence. Results: Males initially facilitated by ethanol displayed transient social anxiety-like behavior during acute withdrawal from chronic exposure (F 2,41 = 4.418, p < .05), but not during protracted abstinence. Males inhibited by ethanol showed anxiety-like behavior during acute withdrawal from chronic exposure (F 2,42 = 4.345, p < .05), but unlike facilitated males, these effects persisted into protracted abstinence (p < .01). Only non-responsive males displayed social anxiety-like behavior during all withdrawal timepoints (F 1,22 = 30.87, p < .0001). Additionally, ethanol-exposed males displayed increased nonsocial anxiety-like behavior regardless of phenotype (F 1,66 = 12.04, p < .001). Conclusions: These results suggest that, in this rodent model, adolescent individual differences in initial ethanol sensitivity may predict ethanol withdrawal vulnerability. These findings inform research aimed at identifying adolescent boys in clinical settings who are vulnerable to developing alcohol use disorder.

Objective: We examined current alcohol use and binge drinking among college students, by Veteran status. Participants: Students that completed the 2021–2022 Healthy Minds Study, with complete demographic, alcohol use, and mental health data (n = 78,446). Methods: Weighted logistic regression models examined the relationship between Veteran status and past two-week alcohol use; and among those currently using alcohol, whether Veteran status was associated with any binge drinking. Models controlled for age, gender, race and ethnicity, and mental health conditions. We replicated models within the Veteran sample. Results: Veteran status was not significantly associated with increased use of alcohol or binge drinking. Both within the full population and the Veteran sample who currently use alcohol, students aged 18–20 had the highest odds of engaging in past two-week binge drinking. Conclusions: College campuses should continue prevention and intervention planning for the high-risk group of underage students to reduce alcohol-related morbidity and consequences. Disclaimer: The opinions and assertions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Uniformed Services University or the Department of Defense.

Obesity varies markedly across U.S. counties, and global models often miss place-specific determinants. While prior studies document higher prevalence in nonmetropolitan areas, the geographic variation in its determinants-known as spatial heterogeneity-remains underexplored. We linked age-adjusted adult obesity prevalence with socioeconomic indicators, and behavioral risks for 3106 contiguous counties. A global OLS model served as a baseline, followed by estimation of Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR). MGWR outperformed global OLS (adjusted [Formula: see text]: 0.801 vs. 0.566; AICc: 13,580.92 vs. 15,764.21), confirming non-stationarity and revealing covariate-specific scales. Metropolitan status was generally protective, but its effect attenuated or reversed in parts of the West. Income and educational attainment are broadly inverse with minimal dispersion across counties, suggesting near-global behavior in this specification. Short sleep shows a strong positive association with little spread, while binge drinking is positive and slightly more variable. Employment is narrowly positive with almost no spatial dispersion. Bandwidth diagnostics separate near-global from local processes: metro and employment operate at large bandwidths, education and binge drinking at meso scales, and income, short sleep, and marriage at finer scales. As a benchmark, metro-only models showed a uniformly protective but locally varying metro effect that attenuated once socioeconomic and behavioral covariates were included. Findings confirm non-stationarity and argue for a two-tier translation: system-level policies for near-global factors and community-tailored interventions for localized risks, with attention to Western metropolitan vulnerabilities and Southeastern rural constraints.

Non-consensual condom removal, colloquially known as stealthing, has emerged as a critical but under-researched form of sexual violence that undermines sexual autonomy and consent. While global studies have identified its prevalence and psychological consequences, there is a lack of empirical research on stealthing in India. This cross-sectional study addresses this gap by (a) estimating the prevalence of stealthing victimization among female university students in India, (b) examining its behavioral correlates (binge drinking and substance use), and (c) examining its association with other forms of sexual violence and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A sample of 395 participants was surveyed using validated self-report measures. Findings revealed that 14.4% of participants reported experiencing stealthing. Victims of stealthing were significantly more likely to report experiences of other forms of sexual violence and elevated PTSD symptoms. These results underscore the substantial psychological toll of stealthing and demonstrate its status as an independent risk factor for serious mental health outcomes and broader victimization. Given India's socio-cultural context, this study highlights the urgent need for awareness, educational interventions, and policy responses that recognize stealthing as a consequential form of sexual violation with lasting mental health and safety implications.

Abstract Objective: With increasing incidence, identifying modifiable risk factors contributing to early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is critically important. We examined if history of binge drinking was more associated with EOCRC than with late-onset colorectal cancer (LOCRC). Methods: Data from the Ohio Colorectal Cancer Prevention Initiavtive (OCCPI), a multi-center study conducted between 2013-2016, were used in this case-case comparison of EOCRC to LOCRC. Ohio residents with newly diagnosed primary colorectal cancers (CRC) were included in the OCCPI. Binge drinking was self-reported for the year before CRC diagnosis and during the decade in the particpants' life with the heaviest alcohol consumption. Binge drinking was defined as consuming &amp;gt;3 drinks within a two-hour period for both men and women. EOCRC cases were defined as those aged &amp;lt;50 at CRC diagnosis and LOCRC cases as those &amp;gt; age 49. The association between binge drinking and EOCRC was assessed with logistic regression, adjusting for sex, race, education, smoking status, and family history of CRC. Results: Included in the OCCPI were 323 EOCRC and 1,256 LOCRC cases. Engaging in binge drinking the year before one's CRC diagnosis was more associated with EOCRC than LOCRC (OR:3.15, 95%CI:2.31-4.30). Those with EOCRC were also more likely to report binge drinking during the time in their life with the heaviest alcohol consumption than LOCRC cases (OR:3.22, 95%CI:2.37-4.40). When we compared the youngest EOCRC (&amp;lt;age 40) to the oldest LOCRC cases (&amp;gt;age 59), the unadjusted associations observed were stronger with wider confidence intervals (OR: 6.65, 95%CI: 3.86-11.48; OR:4.44, 95%CI: 2.63-7.53 for the year before CRC diagnosis and the decade of most consumption, respectively). Conclusions: Compared to LOCRC, those with EOCRC were more likely to engage in binge drinking. Interventions to reduce binge drinking, particularly among younger adults, may have potential for EOCRC prevention. Citation Format: Electra D. Paskett, Samantha Rees, Rachel Pearlman, Peter Shields, Heather Hampel, Jo Freudenheim. Association of Binge Drinking with Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer: A Comparison to Late-Onset Cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: The Rise in Early-Onset Cancers—Knowledge Gaps and Research Opportunities; 2025 Dec 10-13; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2025;31(23_Suppl):Abstract nr C027.

Psychedelic drugs may help treat alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study evaluated BPL-003, a novel intranasal powder formulation of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) benzoate salt, in people with moderate-severe AUD enrolled in a standard of care, 10-week programme of relapse-prevention oriented Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Open-label, phase 2a, single-dose, clinical trial with 12-week follow-up (Day 84 endpoint) with a target of 12 participants. Two clinics in England between 29 March 2023 and 2 July 2024. Thirteen participants were enrolled. Most were male (n = 10; 76.9%), of White-UK origin (n = 12; 92.3%), with a mean age of 49.3years. Twelve participants completed the study (efficacy analysis set). Participants received a single intranasal dose of 10mg BPL-003 in a controlled environment with psychological support. Participants received three pre-dose preparation sessions and three post-dose integration sessions before CBT. Primary endpoints were safety and tolerability (by physical examination, laboratory evaluations, cardiac telemetry and treatment emergent adverse events [TEAEs]). Exploratory endpoints included Timeline Follow-Back recording of alcohol use (abstinent days, units per day/week, heavy drinking days [HDDs; defined according to the UK government definition of binge drinking: ≥7units per day women, ≥9units per day men]) to Week 12 follow-up (study endpoint); craving, alcohol-related problems; and patient- and clinician-reported measures of well-being and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Over 12 weeks, 41 TEAEs (all mild or moderate in severity) were reported by 11 of 12 (84.6%) participants (no TEAE-related withdrawals). The most common TEAEs were study drug administration site pain (four participants; 30.8%); transient elevations in blood pressure after drug administration (four participants; 30.8%); and flashbacks (reactivations), nightmares, and nausea (two participants; 15.4%). At Week 12, the mean (standard deviation [SD]) percentage of abstinent days increased from 33.2% (22.8) at baseline to 80.8% (28.2) and HDDs reduced from 56.2% (SD 26.4) at baseline to 13.2% (SD 21.8). Six of 12 participants (50%) were continuously abstinent, three (25%) had meaningful reductions in alcohol consumption, and three (25%) had no change or a limited change in their drinking patterns. Overall, measures of the negative consequences of alcohol, craving, well-being and HRQoL indicated improvement. A first phase 2a clinical trial of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (BPL-003 10mg) in the context of a 10-week programme of CBT demonstrated acceptable safety and tolerability and provided preliminary evidence of efficacy for reducing alcohol craving and consumption. These findings support progression to larger, controlled trials of BPL-003 for the treatment of alcohol use disorder.

Binge drinking during adolescence is associated with a higher risk of developing Alcohol Use Disorders and impaired stress reactivity in adulthood. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis matures during adolescence and is under strict GABAergic control. Yet, how early binge drinking alters GABAergic signaling in this region, and whether these changes contribute to later-life disruptions in stress reactivity, remain unknown. Our goal with these set of experiments was to test the hypothesis that adolescent binge drinking would impair maturation of GABAergic signaling in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and lead to aberrant behavioral and neuroendocrine stress reactivity. Adolescent male and female C57BL/6J mice were given access to 20% ethanol or tap water under Drinking in the Dark-Multiple Scheduled Access paradigm from PD28 to PD42 and went through abstinence until adulthood. At adulthood (PD60+), the behavioral and endocrine response to two stressors, forced swim stress and social defeat stress, were evaluated. Only females with a history of adolescent drinking showed abnormal behavioral reactivity to stress, with increased immobility in the forced swim stressor task. Females with a history of adolescent binge drinking displayed a hypo-corticosterone response after social stress and males showed delayed negative feedback to the forced swim stressor. PVN-enriched tissue from these mice showed no changes in transcription of Gabrg2, but males showed a significant increase in expression of Slc12a5, which encodes for the chloride potassium co-transporter, KCC2. These males showed no change in KCC2 protein when evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Taken together, these data show that adolescent binge drinking in pair-housed mice is associated with male-specific potential vulnerability in hypothalamic inhibitory signaling and disrupted adult stress reactivity in a sex- and stressor- dependent manner.