College binge drinking has steadily become a major public concern not only for colleges and universities around the country, but for the states as well. According to research, almost 50% of full-time college students binge drink, and approximately 1,800,000 college students who binge drink qualified for the medical criteria for substance abuse.
What is binge drinking, and why does it affect such an enormous number of college students?
PRESSURE ULCER GRADING
Binge drinking has been defined as the consumption of alcohol with the primary objective of getting drunk at a very short period of time. For a typical adult, this means consuming about five or more drinks for males, and 4 or more drinks for females in approximately two hours.
Most college students, especially new enrollees, consider binge drinking as a rite of passage to adulthood, even before they turn 21. They associate excessive "partying" as something they have to do in order to be "in". Peer pressure is a huge factor of binge drinking. Some people who have never had a drink in their lives actually have their first taste of binge drinking in college.
Many others do not have to be pressured by peers to binge drink. A lot of college students live away from their parents, staying in their own apartments or dormitories where partying is common any day of the week. For this reason, college becomes a place where they celebrate freedom. They will find many reasons to get drunk. It doesn't matter what the reason is. It may be to celebrate an exam they just aced, or to feel better after having failed one. They will find any reason to party and drink as much alcohol as they can consume.
Many drinking games have also been adopted by these parties and the competition can be a great motivation to drink. Men are proud to have bested other guys, and females who can drink as much as their male friends feel even prouder. For those who don't live with parents anymore, it is such a joy not to have to worry about what time you get home, who you're with, and where you go. Ultimate freedom can be very dangerous. Added to these, the low prices of alcohol in the market do not help.
So what effects do binge drinking have on college students?
The first major effect of this is apparent - school performance. Excessive partying and binge drinking can result to missed classes and dipping grades because the body and mind are greatly affected by over-consumption of alcohol.
The day after binge drinking is not a good day, as most people who have ever gotten drunk can tell you. Hangovers can prevent heavy drinkers from going to classes with the right mindset, if they manage to go at all. They can spend night after night of drinking and be in very bad shape every single day.
The most dangerous effect of college binge drinking is lethal. A lot of young adults are harmed by getting drunk, whether from accidents or serious health issues. A study of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimated a death toll of 1,700 college students from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, most of these due to vehicular accidents. Over 30,000 college students annually also require medical treatment after alcohol overdose. Along with these are serious health issues like ulcers and liver problems, among many others.
Sexual assaults, rape, unprotected sex that can lead to unwanted pregnancy are other grave issues that can come out of drinking. All of these come with critical psychological issues that will not only cause lifelong trauma to binge drinkers, but for those around them as well.
What steps can be taken to help prevent this problem?
College and university presidents have admitted that this may be the most major problem they have in their institutions. To prevent this, many have established informative campaigns and some have even put an alcohol ban within their campuses. Parents should also play a major role in ensuring their kids' safety from this by sending them out to college well-informed of their choices and being there for them when needed. College binge drinking should not be treated as an escape: it will not do anything good for the health, education, and the future of your children.
Causes And Effects Of College Binge Drinking PRESSURE ULCER GRADING
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