Drinking Amongst College Students: More Harmful Than You Thought

« Getting Along With an Ignition Interlock Device

Drunk Driving – An Offense with a Hefty Price Tag! »

Drinking Amongst College Students: More Harmful Than You Thought

July 25, 2012
Author: Chris M. Alexander

Recent studies and research seem to suggest that drinking among college students is on the rise. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) quotes researches which indicate an increase in fatal injuries related to alcohol from 1,500 in 1998 to over 1,700 in 2001 among college students aged 18-24. At the same time, 500,000 more students were found driving under influence over the same period (as compared with 2.3 million in 1998).

Clearly, these statistics show that the menace is on the rise in the country and college drinking may be more harmful than estimates in the past. And it’s not just the health risks which make the problem so dangerous. There are many other consequences of drinking amongst college students which makes the issue a quite grave one.

• Death & Injury

The worst case scenario is, sadly, very common amongst college students. Unintentional injuries and motor vehicle crashes are not unheard of either. Needless to say, even if accidents under the influence of alcohol do not involve death, some form of adverse injury does usually happen.

• Physical and Sexual Assault

Alcohol-related physical and sexual abuse is another problem amongst young ones. Studies show that about 50 percent of sexual assault cases among college students are associated with alcohol use, with incidents more frequent between people who know each other.

• High-Risk Sexual Behavior

Because drinking suppresses your mental processes to quite an extent, engaging in unplanned or unprotected sex under the influence of booze is a very strong possibility. Students indulging in heavy drinking have been found to have had multiple sexual partners in the past month as compared with non-binge drinkers.

• Poor Academic Performance

Though a strong association between alcohol abuse and academic performance cannot be established, students do report having missed classes, not being able to concentrate in class, and suffering from lower grades on exams and assignments in general.

• Vandalism and Property Damage

College campuses where heavy drinking amongst students is a norm frequently report property damage. Student drinkers themselves admit to having damaged property under the influence of booze.

So what can be done? Acknowledging the growing menace that college drinking has become, greater enforcement of the legal drinking age of 21, counseling programs, and greater community involvement are some of the steps that can be taken. Efforts need to be taken to protect the youth of this country from the mammoth problem that drinking has become.

Share and Enjoy: