Drinking alcohol is one way for college students to socialize and make new friends. Even if many college students are still underaged, alcohol is very common especially in parties and other social gatherings. However, there are instances when drinking too much alcohol can result in being addicted to it, which can negatively impact the student’s life.
Factors Contributing to Alcohol Drinking
For a college student, there are many variables pushing them to drink alcohol. When attending occasions and parties, alcohol consumption will always be there, but it is up to the student to control one’s alcohol consumption.
Below are some of the main reasons why college students drink alcohol:
- College life is fully loaded with various academic and extracurricular activities, so one needs to have an escape from these routine activities. This is where alcohol drinking becomes a leisure activity to unwind and relax.
- College students are also moved to drink alcohol because it makes one feel sexy. In the general student population, 19.9% male and 28.8% female college students believe in the same concept as well.
- Alcohol seems to help students get over one’s timid and shy personality towards the opposite sex. Moreover, it supports the free expression of thoughts and feelings.
- When there are parties in the house of classmates or a bar, college students drink alcohol to celebrate. Celebrations are done when the campus or group has won the game or for a special occasion.
- Oftentimes, college students also drink because one wants to fit in the group. This is highly rampant for freshmen and those joining Greek Houses.
- College students also drink to relieve stress from school, family, or a break-up with a loved one.
Prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Among College Students
There is an increasing trend of binge drinking and alcoholism in many college campuses and universities in the United States. In the previous section, the various factors contributing to alcoholism among college students were discussed and this results in a spike of cases of alcohol abuse among college students.
Here are some statistical data to describe the situation of alcohol use disorder among college students.
- Around 32% of students in campuses do binge drinking
- Not all college students are alcoholics but around 81% have tried drinking once in their whole college years
- Daily, a student can take 1.7 drinks or about 2.8 times intense drinking in a month
- 18-22 years old college students who drink account for 37.9% of the population of students who do binge drinking
- 2 out of 3 students engage in uncontrolled drinking
Adverse Effects of Alcohol Use Disorder Among College Students
When a person binge drinks, it produces negative effects on the mind and body. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a serious matter when one talks about its detrimental long-term side effects. Below are some of the negative impacts of excessive alcohol consumption.
1. Deaths Caused by Alcoholism
Most students who died from alcoholism are aged 18 to 24 years, and 1,825 students are reported to have died from this..
2. Sexual Harassment
When a person drinks, the mind can no longer comprehend one’s action and are likely to be impulsive. Based on records, most students who are a victim of sexual assault and rape due to alcoholism are aged 18 to 24 years. Around 97,000 students have been a victim of alcohol-related rape and sexual assault.
3. Physical Abuse Related to Alcohol Consumption
When a person is under the influence of too much alcohol, there is an increased risk of being aggressive and violent. Based on records, 696,000 students aged 18-24 years have been a victim of physical abuse and fights due to alcohol drinking.
4. Low School Performance
Students who party and drink alcohol excessively are likely to experience hangovers, which leads to absences or being late in class. One out of four students is reported to have a decreasing mark in their school cards because of alcohol binge drinking.
5. Other Negative Effects
Aside from those negative effects mentioned above, alcohol use disorder could cause students to do unhealthy habits like unprotected sex, driving under the influence of alcohol, vandalism, breaking things, stealing, and more.
Methods of Preventing Alcoholism Among College Students
It is challenging to cut off from alcohol abuse, especially if one has been doing it for quite some time. Therefore, treating and preventing alcoholism among college students can be tough.
Below are some ways of reducing alcohol use disorder in school campuses:
- Motivational Interviewing
This therapy aims to help students find a strong motivation to change and break one’s habit of consuming alcohol. The therapist will conduct various means of letting the student realize one’s condition and the benefit of overcoming it.
- Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches
The therapist will guide the patients to determine what negative thoughts push them to consume alcohol. After enhancing self-awareness and the triggers, patients will be guided in developing positive coping mechanisms to overcome alcoholism.
- Campaign on Increased Awareness About Alcoholism
The school and other private and public agencies must create advocacies and programs that shall increase awareness and education about the dangers of binge drinking and alcohol use disorder.
