Study: Binge drinking, sexual assaults mix too often
Heavy drinking and sexual assaults are more likely to go hand in hand, according to a recent study.
According to a study at Indiana State University, 40 percent of male students play drinking games to take sexual advantage of their opponents. Another 30 percent play because they're trying to get their opponent drunk enough to have sex, and 20 percent said they assaulted an opponent after a drinking game.
Binge drinking, which is defined as four or more drinks in one sitting for women and five or more drinks for men, occurs when playing these games and is a problem at UK, according to Meg Quarles, a student affairs officer for the UK's Alcohol Health Education Program. Quarles cited a statistic that 49 percent of UK students admitted to binge drinking in the last two weeks.
Perhaps more disturbing is that UK is not alone in these numbers, she said.
"That's right on the national average (of all universities for binge drinking)," Quarles said. "We're right there with all of the other four-year universities."
Students may have varying reasons for binge drinking and some believe nefarious motives aren't involved.
"I guess to escape," said political science senior Taylor Sawyer. "There's no valid answer. Everybody drinks for different reasons."
Pharmacy junior Megan Chase participates in drinking games, but said she is cautious about how much she drinks. She plays with people she knows well, and often members of the same sex.
"If you don't know how to control yourself, then it's a problem," she said.
Quarles said she blames the media in part for influencing this college behavior. She also said the term binge drinking is moving toward "dangerous" drinking.
Binge drinking can cause problems such as hangovers, run-ins with authorities and bad grades due to not going to class, Quarles said. Focusing on negative consequences will hopefully open students' eyes to the serious nature of this problem, she said.
Acting UK Police Chief Kevin Franklin said responsible, low-risk drinking can prevent many negative consequences. Students believe they are "10 feet tall and bullet-proof," he said, and that attitude leads them to participate in high-risk behaviors.
"(That attitude) puts them right there in the high-risk category and opens (them) up to the possibility of assault or unwanted sexual advances," Franklin said.
Other alcohol-related accidents are just as dangerous. According Franklin, 29 percent of the 18-24 age group are killed in car accidents in Kentucky, and roughly a third of those accidents are alcohol-related.
Franklin also said positive peer pressure is an effective way to stop things before they escalate.
"The No. 1 (means) to help people not do bad things is their peers," Franklin said.
Several groups at UK are spreading the word about smart decision-making.
The student organization the Genesis Group focuses on student safety in the Greek organizations by offering designated drivers for students who have been drinking. College Alcohol Use Students Education peer group is another campus-wide organization with a goal to prevent drinking-related harm. That group supports drinking abstinence, while also providing students with information about different low-risk drinking behaviors.
Quarles said more students should step up and help others.
"I'd love to see more students get on board."
<< Home