BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 6, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- As college students arrive on campus this
fall, it is typically a time of new experiences, new friendships,
and making memories that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately for
many, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
(NIAAA) says, it is also a time of harmful and underage drinking
and of dealing with its aftermath—from vandalism, sexual assault,
and other forms of violence to injuries and death.
Rates and Consequences of College Drinking
According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
(NSDUH), 45.3% of male and 48.5% of female full-time college
students ages 18 to 22 drank alcohol in the past month. About
29.3% of male and 28.0% of female full-time college students
engaged in binge drinking during the same time frame. The
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
defines binge drinking as five or more drinks on an occasion for
men and four or more drinks on an occasion for women. (NIAAA
defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings
blood alcohol concentration [BAC] to 0.08%—or 0.08 grams of alcohol
per deciliter—or more. This typically happens if a woman has four
or more drinks or a man has five or more drinks within about 2
hours.) In addition, 6.0% of male and 6.7% of female full-time
college students engaged in heavy alcohol use, defined by SAMHSA as
binge drinking on 5 or more days in the past month.
The consequences of harmful and underage drinking by college
students are more significant, more destructive, and more costly
than many parents realize. And these consequences affect students
whether they drink or not. Researchers estimate that each year:
- Deaths: 1,519 college students between the ages of
18 and 24 die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries,
including motor vehicle crashes.
- Assaults: 696,000 students between the ages of 18
and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been
drinking.
- Sexual assaults: Although estimating the number of
alcohol-related sexual assaults is exceptionally challenging—since
sexual assault is typically underreported—researchers have
confirmed a long-standing finding that 1 in 5 college women
experience sexual assault during their time in college. A
majority of sexual assaults in college involve alcohol or other
substances. Research continues in order to better understand
the relationships between alcohol and sexual assault among college
students. Additional national survey data are needed to better
estimate the number of alcohol-related assaults.
- Alcohol use disorder (AUD): Roughly 14% of college
students meet the criteria for AUD.
- Academic consequences: About 1 in 4 college students
report academic consequences from drinking, including missing
class, falling behind in class, doing poorly on exams or papers,
and receiving lower grades overall.
Early Weeks Are Critical
Although some students come to college already having some
experience with alcohol, certain aspects of college life, such as
unstructured time, the widespread availability of alcohol,
inconsistent enforcement of underage drinking laws, and limited
interactions with parents and other adults, can intensify the
problem.
The first 6 weeks of freshman year are a vulnerable time for
harmful and underage college drinking as well as for
alcohol-related consequences because of student expectations and
social pressures at the start of the academic year.
Parents Can Help
An often overlooked protective factor involves the continuing
influence of parents during the college years. Research shows that
students who abstain from drinking often do so because their
parents discussed alcohol use and its adverse consequences with
them. During these crucial early weeks, parents can do a number of
things to stay involved.
Parents can help by:
- Talking with students about the dangers of harmful and underage
college drinking—such as the possible legal and school penalties
for underage drinking and the risks of alcohol overdose,
unintentional injuries, violence, unsafe sexual behavior, academic
failure, and other adverse consequences
- Reaching out periodically and keeping the lines of
communication open while staying alert for possible alcohol-related
problems
- Reminding students to feel free to reach out to them to share
information about their daily activities and to ask for help if
needed
- Learning about the school's alcohol prevention and emergency
intervention efforts (see "Resources Are Available" section)
- Making sure students know the signs of alcohol overdose or an
alcohol-related problem, and how to help
Resources Are Available
For parents who want to discuss the consequences of drinking
with their college students, a variety of helpful resources are
available from the NIAAA College Drinking Prevention
website.
These resources include a parents' guide that offers
research-based information plus helpful advice on choosing the
right college, staying involved during freshman year, and getting
assistance if faced with an alcohol-related crisis. The website
also provides links to alcohol policies at colleges across the
country, an interactive diagram of how alcohol affects the human
body, and an interactive alcohol cost calculator.
Additionally, NIAAA's booklet and website CollegeAIM—the
College Alcohol Intervention Matrix helps schools and parents
address harmful and underage student drinking by identifying
effective alcohol interventions.
For more information, please visit:
CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov.
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SOURCE National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism,
National Institutes of Health