The Deadly College Pastime
It’s that time of year again. The slow, hot summer is coming to a close and college students are making the pilgrimage back to school. Whether you are on your own far from home for the first time or a seasoned senior or grad student, you are vulnerable to the temptation of drinking. Drinking alcohol is a rite of passage in college. Many students can drink and have fun, but when it’s time to get serious and stop drinking, they do. However, some students will get themselves in trouble and walk down a dark path.
What’s So Bad About Drinking?
You may know that drinking alcohol in excess is bad, but do you know what can really happen? The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism website lists some of the common consequences of college drinking. These numbers are a snapshot of what happens to college students in one year:
- Academic Problems: The first things to be affected are your academics. The freedom of college life may be too much for some students to handle. Many students will use any excuse to not go to class, and being drunk is a common one. About 25 percent of college students report academic consequences of their drinking, including missing classes, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades overall.
- Health Problems: Just because you are young and healthy doesn’t mean that alcohol won’t affect your health quickly. More than 150,000 students develop an alcohol-related health problem.
- Drunk Driving: One of the big dangers of drinking is thinking you’re sober enough to drive and unfortunately this happens often. About 3.36 million students between the ages of 18 and 24 drink and drive every year.
- Police Involvement: Sometimes the debauchery gets out of hand and some students get in trouble. About 5 percent of 4-year college students are involved with the police or campus security because of their drinking, and 110,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are arrested for an alcohol-related violation such as public drunkenness or driving under the influence.
- Sexual Abuse: As disturbing as this is, sexual assault is a common occurrence on college campuses. About 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.
- Alcohol Abuse and Dependence: Some students’ drinking crosses the line from casual drinking to addiction. In a recent 1-year period, 31 percent of college students met the criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol abuse and 6 percent for a diagnosis of alcohol dependence, according to self-reports about their drinking.
- Suicide Attempts: College is a difficult time for students. Dealing with school pressures in addition to figuring out who you are can be too much for many to handle. Adding alcohol to the mix can have devastating results. Between 1.2 and 1.5 percent of students indicate that they tried to commit suicide within the past year due to drinking or drug use.
- Death: Excessive drinking and poor decisions while intoxicated can lead to death. In a recent one-year period, 1,825 college students (ages 18-24) died from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes.
Warning Signs of Alcohol Abuse or Dependence
With so many consequences, it’s imperative to be aware of warning signs of alcohol abuse or dependence. Some signs to look out for are:
- Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol often
- Drinking to get drunk
- Thinking about drinking
- Skipping class because you are drunk or hung over
- Not completing assignments because you are too drunk or hung over
- Decline in academic performance
- Drinking affecting your relationships
Call Now and Make the Best Choice of Your Life
It’s not easy to admit that you have a problem. It’s even harder to deal with a drinking problem. Fortunately, you don’t have to handle this issue alone. At Stepping Stone Center, our experienced staff will give you the tools to help you stay sober.Alcohol Rehab can be the beginning of a new sober life. Call Stepping Stone Center at 866-957-4960.