More college age women abusing alcohol

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - Amherst's Fire Chief says their ambulances are picking up more college age women and taking them to the hospital for alcohol abuse.

Amherst Fire Chief Tim Nelson says he's been tracking the trend since the fall of 2011.

Since then, he says the numbers have been slowly growing.  Nelson told 22News the biggest gap was recorded last spring 32 women and 18 men were taken to area hospitals because of alcohol abuse.  Chief Nelson says they've shared the statistics with area colleges hoping it will help prevention efforts.

“What I do know there's research out there that's showing that's part of a national trend. The proportion of females and males seems to be getting wider,” Amherst Fire Chief told 22News.

So far this fall, 43 college age women and 32 men have been picked up by first responders in the Amherst area, and taken to area hospitals for alcohol abuse.