What is a good 'public issue' that I can focus my 5000 word college class project on?

I’m in a public writing class this semester, as one of those requirements that doesn’t really go with my major. The main focus is writing for the public, finding an audience, and choosing an issue/topic to either persuade, inform, or make some sort of point on. People have chosen things such as clean coal technology, battlefield preservation, sex education, etc. I’m not sure what I want to do mine on yet. I’m a pharmacy major, and while I have no problem writing, I always have issues choosing a topic that I will be able to research and write about that isn’t too broad. Any ideas of medical/science/other interesting issues that the public should be informed of? I was thinking maybe writing about the dangers of binge drinking. Ideas?