Students susceptible to alcohol abuse

The majority of full-time college students reported drinking alcohol in the past month, according to the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

Even though it is a common substance, alcohol can be destructive to both the drinker and the surrounding people when abused.

“Alcohol abuse” is commonly defined as any pattern of drinking which results in physical injury or legal problems or causes an individual to fail to address responsibilities at work, school, home, or in a relationship.

The NSDUH discovered that the highest rates of binge and heavy drinking were in the young adults category. The survey found that 41.9 percent of 18–25 year olds engaged in binge drinking and 15.3 percent reported heavy alcohol use. “Binge drinking” is defined as having five or more drinks on the same occasion, and “heavy use” means having five or more drinks on five or more occasions per month.

“Young adults aged 18 to 22 enrolled full time in college were more likely than their peers not enrolled full time to use alcohol, binge-drink and drink heavily,” according to NSDUH.

Therefore, college students are the highest underage consumers of alcohol and also within the age group most likely to engage in risky drinking behavior. About 83 percent of campus arrests in 2005 involved alcohol.

Additionally, 19.8 percent of people aged 18–20 and 27.9 percent of people aged 21–25 reported driving under the influence of alcohol on the NSDUH. Men were twice as likely as women to report driving under the influence.

Fraternity and sorority members consistently show higher rates of alcohol use than non-Greek students.

“Fraternity and sorority members are likelier than non-members to drink (88 vs. 67 percent), binge drink (64 vs. 37 percent), (and) drink and drive (33 vs. 21 percent),” according to a 2007 report titled “Wasting the Best and the Brightest: Substance Abuse at America’s Colleges and Universities” by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA).

What happens when people drink too much?

Although alcohol can cause liver problems like cirrhosis or fatty liver or heart problems like high blood pressure or heart failure after years of sustained drinking habits, a college student has a much higher risk of sustaining an alcohol-related injury from a car crash, slipping and falling, or getting into a fight.

Alcohol can kill when a person is too intoxicated to maintain his own airway. The person can suffocate on his own vomit or on another obstruction, like a pillow.

What should students do if a friend drinks too much?

If the person is still awake, encourage him to drink water. If he is lying down, make sure to put him on his side rather than his back. Make sure the friend is comfortable and monitor his breathing.

Contrary to popular belief, cold showers, coffee and “walking it off” won’t really help to sober the person up — what he needs is some time for the effects to wear off.

If a person has become nonresponsive, is breathing irregularly, or if you are in doubt of what to do, call 911.

Students should not worry about getting in trouble when calling authorities, but should call as soon as help is needed. Delaying proper medical attention can be fatal.

What is alcoholism?

Symptoms of alcoholism include loss of control when around alcohol, the inability to limit drinking, cravings for alcohol and physical dependence, which is often demonstrated by withdrawal symptoms such as nausea or sweating.

If you or a friend would like help dealing with alcoholism or any other alcohol-related issues, you can contact TU’s Counseling and Psychological Services Center at x2200 or head to the Alexander Health Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The center also offers evening hours on Tuesdays.

Drinking in moderation or abstaining from drinking alcohol completely are the safest ways to avoid alcohol-related accidents or unwanted situations.

Collegian Online