news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060308/ap_on_he_me/spring_break_risks
AP Study Warns Women About Spring Break By LINDSEY TANNER, AP Medical Writer Wed Mar 8, 7:11 AM ET CHICAGO - The American Medical Association is warning girls not to go wild during spring break. All but confirming what goes on in those "Girls Gone Wild" videos, 83 percent of college women and graduates surveyed by the AMA said spring break involves heavier-than-usual drinking, and 74 percent said the break results in increased sexual activity. The women's answers were based both on firsthand experience and the experiences of friends and acquaintances. Sizable numbers reported getting sick from drinking, and blacking out and engaging in unprotected sex or sex with more than one partner, activities that increase their risks for sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. The AMA is trying to call attention to underage drinking among women because their bodies process alcohol differently and put them at greater risk for health problems, Dr. The AMA-commissioned online survey queried a nationwide random sample of 644 college women or graduates ages 17 to 35 last week. Kathleen Fitzgerald, a 21-year-old junior at Illinois State University, said the AMA's effort to raise awareness is a good idea, but probably won't do much to curb drinking during spring break. "I think a lot of students wouldn't really pay that much attention to it," Fitzgerald said. Also, 74 percent said women use spring break drinking as an excuse for "outrageous" behavior that the AMA said could include public nudity and dancing on tables. Of the 27 percent who said they had attended a college spring break trip: _More than half said they regretted getting sick from drinking on the trip. The AMA said the findings highlight the need for alternative spring break activities. She said many students see spring break as "your chance to go wild and crazy in a different country where no one's going to know you." Kite admitted those trips have a certain appeal, and she hopes to take a more party-oriented vacation next year.
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