Alcohol abuse is on the rise in colleges and universities. It has reached a dangerous level that many do not realize. It threatens our young people. Senator Joe LiebermanWhy does college drinking increase? This age-old fad, which has been around for a long time, has affected this entire generation. In America, approximately 29% are alcohol addicts.
The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism conducted a study that showed college students suffer 1,400 deaths per year from alcohol-related causes, as well as 70,000 assaults and date rapes. (McDonald). Although excessive drinking (5+ glasses in one go) is seen as normal for college students, many other factors influence the likelihood of an individual becoming an alcohol abuser.
Accidents can also have an impact on friends and family. Alcohol is easily available to minors in the U.S. The majority of research is conducted on young people and adolescents because they are the ones who abuse alcohol most often. We can learn from these studies what makes teens drink and their consequences.
Researchers from University of Alabama showed that adolescents consume alcohol for a variety of reasons. It was found that students in high school used alcohol to cope and deal with various problems. Windle’s findings that girls use alcohol more for emotion-oriented and avoidance coping, than boys, were the only differences between the sexes.
Boys are more prone to alcohol addictions and problems (Windle). The research process also revealed that teens drank for less social reasons and more coping reasons. This study showed that students drank in greater quantities as a response to positive events on a daily basis than they did for negative ones (Windle).
It is possible that young people drink to cope with their problems, but they are also more likely to do so when something has happened recently. Alcoholism may also be genetically passed from parents to children. Comparing males who have a family history with alcoholism with males without a history can help determine if there is a link between alcoholism and genetics.
Children of alcoholics and non-COAs had similar quantities of alcohol consumed, but COAs were twice as likely to be diagnosed alcoholics. (Chavez) The test was administered by Nelba Chaves, from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
This could contribute to a social misunderstanding of alcoholism. This idea is partly incorrect. An alcoholic does not necessarily abuse alcohol. An alcoholic can be defined as someone who has a genetic predisposition towards alcoholism (Chavez). Sher Hurlbut Brazeal & Wood also used this approach when researching alcoholism. They compared the difference in expectancies between COA and nonCOA alcohol over a period of four years.
They found that COAs drink more to lower tension, increase socialization, make the activities more engaging, and do better in school (Sher and al. al.) The study was completed four years after it began. al.) This research could help to improve the treatment of alcoholic COA. This research shows that alcoholism in the family is not the sole cause of alcohol abuse by adolescents.
Another reason why teenagers drink is because they have an alcoholic parents. The alcoholic parent may spend less time with their child, or show external signs of alcoholism like violence or depression. College minors may not be allowed to drink alcohol until they are 21, but somehow, they manage to do so. Students in college tend to consume more alcohol than other people.
According to a test conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, college students consume alcohol at a rate of $4.2 billion per year. This money goes towards 430 gallons and 4,000,000 cans beer (Shalala). In addition to the location of the college, ethnic and gender composition and type, also play a role. This is due to sponsored parties at fraternities/sororities.
It is also more likely to be heavier drinkers. College students tend to drink more in groups (Shalala). On campus, there isn’t a legal drinking age. A cup is given to anyone who attends a party. Students between 18-21 years old drink more than those over 21 years old (Shalala). Nearly 4 percent of students in college report daily drinking and 41 percent binge drink (Shalala). For women, binge drinking is four drinks consumed in one session and for men it’s five. Students who binge consume alcohol have even greater problems than students that don’t.
Binge drinkers have a higher risk of having a hangover or engaging in sexual activity that is not planned. Another NIAAA study found that 56,000 students had reported a drop in grades. Students dropped from A to D and F, their GPAs decreased which would affect their future career plans and any scholarships that they may receive.
She said that although she remembered how difficult it was to leave her friends and family, she didn’t recall the night two freshmen males raped her in front of a crowd. In her second year, she attended an event where she drank vodka in large quantities until she lost consciousness. She didn’t discover for weeks that, as a result, these boys were taking turns with her and putting a lightshade on top of her head. They also wrote all over the girl’s face.
Students who engage in drinking frequently are driven by a desire for sensation. According to a study, the average American student spends more on alcohol than on textbooks during college. Students may drink excessively because they are rebelling against their parents’ home. Most individuals who don’t develop a dependency will reduce their binge drinking habits after the freshman year. As a matter of fact, the college year is a period for both social and emotional maturation as well as academic growth.
Students believe that alcohol-related events will enhance social and emotional development. This is not always true, even when teaching. Many students admitted in surveys that they binge-drank to get drunk quickly. Binge-drinkers often drink in large quantities before parties to gain an advantage over others. (Straus 138) Alcohol does not represent a safer alternative to narcotics or other drugs. It is a more acceptable drug in this nation because it’s legalized and produced in mass quantities.
It is misleading and false to say that alcohol is milder than drugs. Alcohol is dangerous and is one of the top five causes of death in America. Teenage alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of death in America. Teenagers are drawn to alcohol by curiosity or in an attempt to be more adult. Parents can have a big influence on teenagers to limit their alcohol consumption or not drink. The majority of American children wouldn’t drink if no parents drank (Haskins. 105). Teenage drinking is increasing, with the youngest age groups being affected. Alcoholism is common in 9-10-12 year olds. (Haskins) Even assuming that this problem can be addressed is very difficult.
