Information and Facts about Alcohol
Many parents worry about the decisions their children will make in college, especially since these choices can have a great impact on their health. One of the most common worries is that students will abuse alcohol or use drugs. Alcohol and drug abuse have been areas of concern on college campuses for many decades. 1,700 college students die and an additional 599,000 are injured annually as a direct result of alcohol consumption. [i]
Alcohol consumption is associated with a range of additional health-related areas of concern including assault, sexual abuse, unsafe sex, academic issues, depression, vandalism and many more. Although only a small percentage of college students meet the criteria for alcoholism, more than 31% meet the criteria for alcohol abuse.[ii]
Alcohol Abuse
Moderate alcohol use is normal, but alcohol abuse or dependence is a serious problem. Too much alcohol affects the central nervous system and how the brain functions. It affects perception, thinking and coordination. It impairs judgment, reduces inhibitions and increases aggression. Those who abuse alcohol are more likely than others to engage in high risk, thoughtless or violent behaviors.
Warning Signs of Alcohol Abuse
- Your drinking is causing you to have social, work, financial, legal or health problems
- You have tried unsuccessfully to cut down the amount of alcohol you consume
- You drink alone
- You have a drink as soon as you get up in the morning to get rid of a hangover
- You can drink a lot of alcohol without it having any affect on you, so you don’t worry about how much you drink
- You use alcohol to cope with the problems in your life
- You have a family history of alcohol abuse.
Where to Get Help
If you feel you or someone you know has a problem with alcohol abuse, contact the collegeCounseling Center, 580-5555, to set up an appointment. The Counseling Centeris located on the first floor of Jonsson Tower.
- BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students) is a nationally recognized program that uses motivational interviewing to elicit behavior change in students. During the 2007–08 academic year, more than 120 students have completed the BASICS program. Preliminary data suggests that the program is quite effective at altering student behaviors. For more information, visit the BASICS page.
[ii]Knight JR, Wechsler H, Kuo M, Seibring M, Weitzman ER, Schuckit M. Alcohol abuse and dependence amongU.S.college students. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 2002, in press.