Binge drinking trends among young adults in Indiana are changing – the practice no longer tapers off after college. A new report finds that young people in Indiana continue to drink excessively into their mid-twenties.

Young adults ages 18-25, from 10 Indiana counties were surveyed. Lead analyst Dr. Marion Greene is a visiting researcher at the Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI and says she hopes these counties will use the data.

"If we know that young adults continue to be affected by binge drinking we can target our prevention efforts more closely," says Greene.

Counties have been identified as those with higher rates of alcohol or drug misuse. They are Cass, Clark, Floyd, Knox, Lake, Madison, Marion, Porter, Scott and Vanderburgh.

The data also show young Hoosiers binge drink at rates higher than the national average.

Greene says these trends could have serious implications.

"The earlier onset of either alcohol or drug use, the more likely the person will eventually become dependent or addicted," says Greene.

Greene points to changing social norms like older college students may play into the findings. She also says stress factors could play a role.

Binge drinking is the most common and deadly pattern of alcohol misuse.