Believe it or not, just about every college student is affected by college drinking, regardless of whether or not they consume alcohol. How is this possible, you ask? It’s not the drinking in and of itself that causes harm, but instead the resulting consequences of overdoing it, of binge drinking.
It’s easy to go overboard when you are unaware of the facts. Any students attending university should be aware of exactly how much drink constitutes “binge drinking.” You’re probably wondering how much is considered “too much.”
When is it Binging?
The number of drinks needed to put you over the legal limit depends on your gender. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has established 15 drinks or more each week as “heavy drinking” for males, and eight or more for females. It doesn’t seem like much, does it? And with a number as low as this, it is easy to understand how so many college students are falling into the binge drinker category. In fact, according to the CDC, binging is the single most common type of alcoholic consumption.
If eight to 15 drinks is our weekly limit, how much is too much for a single occasion? For men, five or more is deemed too many, and for women it’s four. It has been determined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) that nearly half of students attending college who consume alcohol are binging.
The Dangers of Binging
Alcohol-related crimes are affecting college students and their families every year. According to the NIAAA, alcohol abuse is responsible for roughly 1,825 deaths per year of students aged 18 to 24. Over 690,000 students in that age range are victims of assault at the hands of other binge-drinking students. Alcohol abuse accounts for over 97,000 rape cases involving the same age demographic.
Beyond the more serious crimes, excessive drinking can have repercussions when it comes to academics and health. Some of the more common effects include declining grades, lowered performances and results in exams and papers, skipping classes, and falling behind in general.
As for health risks, alcohol-related diseases affect over 150,000 college students per year. Such abuse can also lead to suicidal attempts, as 1.2 to 1.5 percent of colleges students who were faced with either a drug or drinking problems have reportedly tried to take their lives.
What Can Be Done
To combat the negative effects associated with binge drinking, it is important for students who are at risk of alcoholic abuse to be evaluated through alcohol screening programs. Brief intervention can be of tremendous benefit. However, only a mere five percent of students who binge on alcohol seek help. Alcohol education and limited availability of alcoholic beverages can be beneficial, in addition to providing plenty of engaging on-campus activities for students to enjoy.
We can do much to reduce the devastating effects of alcohol abuse in our community. It is vital for educational institutions to do their part in providing students with a safe and fun environment, where drinks are not needed to enjoy college life.