The College Environment And Alcoholism
College students have a special risk factor towards the alcohol dependent disease, alcoholism. Students of higher education are typically away from parental and familial support groups. Some students are for the first time experiencing the taste of total freedom of choice. It is not uncommon to have young students “let loose” of their otherwise inhibitions, moral upbringing or convictions and try new things. Parties are perfect opportunities for youth to experiment with newly discovered freedom. Alcohol can be found at most college parties, even if alcohol is prohibited. Others use alcohol to deal with the pressures of college.
It is a common news story: Binge Drinking On Local College leads to… Frequent binge drinking contributes to students having difficulty coping with classes, remembering what they hear in class and attending class or completing assignments.
Statistically 1 in every 5 binge drinkers is classified by evaluation as having alcohol dependence also called alcoholism. When you look at the statistics for an over all college campus population and realize that 1 in 20 students have a alcohol dependency problem, it becomes clear that binge drinking increases your risk of alcoholism. Some colleges even have reputations for being “party colleges”. Students come to these colleges expecting to encounter parties and alcohol. The expectation fuels the occurrence and the camaraderie seen among students who party can encourage binge drinking. A recent study came to the conclusion that “Male students are at greater risk than females. Nearly one in 10 college men under age 24 met a 12-month diagnosis of alcohol dependence compared to one in 20 college women under age 24.” Male-bonding rituals can be in part to blame for this statistic.
It is a sad realization that many college students do not seek treatment for alcoholism because of the “norm” status that drinking has on campus. Some students may even view drinking as a rite of passage for being a college student. Class pressure also gets the blame for the frequent incidence of alcohol consumption. Alcohol relaxes frayed final exam nerves, or some believe that drinking is the only way to numb the anxieties of heavy class loads.
Putting aside the obvious affects of health and academic consequences; alcohol consumption contributes to college assaults, deaths, injury, drunk driving, property damage, sexual abuse, unsafe sex, and vandalism.
College administrators and parents are becoming more aware of the problems associated with drinking and college students. According to the collegedrinknigprevention.gov Website two recommendations for colleges to consider when addressing the problem of drinking are: The 3-in1 Framework and the 4 Tier programs.
3-in-1 Framework:
This is a multiple component program that targets the individuals who are at risk for alcoholism, the student population as a whole, the college structure and the community that embraces the college.
This report, “A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U.S. Colleges” is geared to encourage presidents, administrators, college prevention specialists, students and community members to think about college drinking and the dangers it represents to all involved in the campus life including the community. Complete information can be found here: http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/StatsSummaries/3inone.aspx
4-Tier
To quote the Website, “To provide a useful list that accounts for the lack of research as well as negative findings, Task Force members placed prevention strategies in descending tiers on the basis of the evidence available to support or refute them.” The full page can be found on: http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/StatsSummaries/4tier.aspx
It is important that not only students be informed about the dangers of alcohol and how drinking can lead to the chronic and progressive disease, alcoholism; but parents, educators, and community members need to be educated as well and encouraged to take action.
Recommended Reading
- Alcohol Abuse on the College Campus
- Alcoholism As Seen Through The Eyes Of A Child
