Alcohol Consumption and the College Student – the Causes and Effects

Alcohol Consumption and the College Student – The Causes and Effects December 24, 2011 Table of Contents List of Illustrations3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY4 1. 0. INTRODUCTION5 1.

1. Purpose Statement5 1. 2Problem5 2. 0 DISCUSSION7 2. 1 Factors That Contribute To The Problem7 2.

2. 1 Solutions Proven Most Effective Through Documented Scientific Research8 2. 2. 2 Solutions Proven Least Effective Through Documented Scientific Research10 2. 2.

3 Solutions Needing More Research10 2. 2. 4 Summary Chart of Solution Effectiveness11 3. 0 CONCLUSION12 3. Conclusion12 3.

2 Recommendation12 3. 3 Benefits13 References14 List of Illustrations Figure 1. Summary Chart of Solution Effectiveness14 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Drinking by college students is a widespread and serious problem that has enormous costs to colleges, communities, and the students themselves. Effective reduction of alcohol use will benefit the college and community by reducing associated costs, damages, crimes, injuries, and deaths. Incidents of college age binge drinking and driving while intoxicated (DWI) have increased since 1998.Nationwide statistics from 2001 indicate that: * 1700 alcohol-related unintentional injury deaths among students aged 18-24 * 500,000 students (age 18-24) are unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol.

* 696,000 students in that age group are assaulted annually by another student who has been drinking. * 2. 1 million students (age 18-24) drove under the influence of alcohol * 11% of college student drinkers damaged property while under the influence of alcohol In general, college students who binge drink attach positive expectancies to alcohol use that outweigh the negative consequences associated with excess drinking.Students also viewed alcohol consumption as a rite of passage granted upon entering college (Dodd et al. , 2010). While many different strategies have been used to attempt to reduce the use of alcohol by college age students, utilizing community and environmental approaches as well as intervention on an individual basishas been shown to be most effective.

1. 0. INTRODUCTION 1. 1.

Purpose Statement The purpose of this proposal is to recommend solutions that have been proven effective through research to combat the problems caused by the excessive use of alcohol by students at Colorado State University.Effective reduction of alcohol use will benefit the college and community by reducing associated costs, damages, crimes, injuries, and deaths. 1. 2 Problem In their paper, What Colleges Need to Know Now: An Update on College Drinking Research (2007), The National Institute in Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s (NIAAA’s) Task Force on College Drinking have reported that incidents of college age binge drinking and driving while intoxicated (DWI) have increased since 1998. Binge drinking is defined as: “A “binge” is a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.

8 gram-percent or above. For a typical adult, this pattern corresponds to consuming 5 or more drinks (male), or 4 or more drinks (female), in about 2 hours. ” Binge drinking by college students has numerous negative results for students, the college, and the surrounding community. According to the same research paper, in 2001 there were an estimated 1700 alcohol-related unintentional injury deaths among students aged 18-24, and an additional 500,000 students (age 18-24) are unintentionally injured under the influence f alcohol.

This represents an increase of 6 percent (per college population) since 1998. Also, an estimated 696,000 students in that age group are assaulted annually by another student who has been drinking. More than 97,000 students are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date-rape (“What Colleges Need to Know,” 2007), 400,000 had unprotected sex, and more than 100,000 report having been too intoxicated to know if they consented to having sex or not (“A Call to Action,” 2002).Unfortunately, binge drinking by college students can also cause more long-term academic and health problems. According to A Call to Action (2002) 25% of students reported missing classes, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades overall due to their drinking. The same report also indicates that over 150,000 students develop an alcohol-related health problem, and 1.

2-1. 5% say they tried to commit suicide within the past year due to drinking or drug use (“A Call to Action,” 2002).The report went on to say that 31% of college students met criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol abuse, and 6% met a diagnosis of alcohol dependence in the last 12 months. Left untreated, alcohol poisoning itself can lead to permanent brain damage or death (“What Colleges Need to Know,” 2007).

Particularly, studies have shown that alcohol consumption by adolescents may cause more extensive brain damage than alcohol consumption by adults. Human brains undergo extensive remodeling during adolescence, and damage occurring in this stage can have permanent effects (“A Call to Action,” 2002).Alcohol abuse also leads to increased risk-taking and crime. 2.

1 million students (age 18-24) drove under the influence of alcohol last year, and 11% of college student drinkers damaged property while under the influence of alcohol (“A Call to Action,” 2002). Five percent of 4-year college students are involved with police or campus security as a result of their drinking, and an estimated 110,000 students (age 18-24) are arrested for an alcohol-related violation such as public drunkenness or driving under the influence (“A Call to Action,” 2002).Unfortunately, the problem is worsening. According to a report by Higson, Zha, and Weitzman (2009), from 1999 to 2005, the proportions of college students ages 18-24 who reported consuming five or more drinks on at least one occasion in the past month increased from 41.

7% to 44. 7%. The proportions of those who drove under the influence of alcohol in the past year also increased, from 26. 5% to 28. 9%.

They also report that alcohol-related unintentional injury deaths increased 3% per 100,000 from 1,440 in 1998 to 1,825 in 2005 among the same college students.The report goes on to say that among 18- to 24-year-olds in the United States, injuries are the leading cause of death, and alcohol is the leading contributor, being a factor in more than 5,000 deaths in that age group each year. To place that number in perspective, it exceeds the total number of U. S. soldiers who have died in the war in Iraq (Hingson et al.

, 2009). In summary, this is a serious problem, and it is only getting worse. 2. 0 DISCUSSION 2.

1 Factors That Contribute To The ProblemEnvironmental and peer influences combine to create a culture of drinking (“A Call to Action,” 2002). In general, college students who binge drink attach positive expectancies to alcohol use that outweigh the negative consequences associated with excess drinking. Many expect increased social approval and acceptance by peers, reduced social anxiety and stress, and increased attractiveness to potential sexual partners (Dodd, Glassman, Webb, Miller, & Arthur, 2010). They also believe it is the social norm.Many college students think campus attitudes are much more permissive toward drinking than they really are, and believe other students drink much more than they actually do. The phenomenon of perceived social norms, or the belief that “everyone” is drinking and drinking is acceptable, is one of the strongest correlates of drinking among young adults (“What Colleges Need to Know,” 2007).

Demographics at greater risk include: male, higher socioeconomic status, higher family education, living in a fraternity or sorority house, and excessive alcohol use by family and/or peers.Drinking also increases during breaks and holidays (“What Colleges Need to Know,” 2007). Motivations to drink include having fun, celebrating, relieving stress, and to take a break from academics (Dodd, Glassman, Webb, Miller, & Arthur, 2010). According to Dodd et al. , students also viewed alcohol consumption as a rite of passage granted upon entering college. Factors contributing to female drinking included easy availability (ladies usually drink free at bars, get specials, or have their drinks bought for them by guys), and as a reward for working hard academically (Dodd et al.

, 2010).Factors contributing to male drinking included drinking to relieve boredom, and to learn their alcohol limits (Dodd et al. , 2010). Males also tend to see drinking as competitive, to see who can consume the most alcohol (Dodd et al.

, 2010). 2. 2 Analysis of Possible Solutions 2. 2. 1 Solutions Proven Most Effective Through Documented Scientific Research Successful interventions occur at three levels, working together to reach individual students, the student body as a whole, and the greater college community (What Colleges Need to Know Now: An Update on College Drinking Research, 2007).

There are several approaches that are effective, and their effectiveness increases when combined. With effective environmental strategies, communities and colleges must work together. One effective strategy focuses on reducing alcohol availability. This includes raising prices on alcohol, and limiting locations of liquor stores to farther away from campus. Another effective strategy is limiting alcohol promotions and advertising on and around campus, as well as more vigorous enforcement of zero tolerance laws.DUI checkpoints in and around campuses, as well as heavy advertising beforehand that “drinking driving laws are strictly enforced in the college area,” showed effectiveness in reducing students driving and drinking (“What Colleges Need to Know,” 2007).

On an individual level, the best research evidence was for approaches that identify and assist problem student drinkers (DeJong, Larimer, Wood, & Hartman, 2009). Programs such as the Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) program can help identify those who are most in need of help.Once those individuals are identified, targeted personal interventions can be implemented. Effective strategies for this include skills-based interventions, and motivational interviewing.

Skills-based interventions include behavioral skills training such as how to monitor daily alcohol consumption, manage stress, set limits, reduce risks of drinking too much, and handle high-risk situations in which drinking is prevalent (DeJong et al. , 2009) (What Colleges Need to Know Now: An Update on College Drinking Research, 2007). Motivational interviewing helps students correct their misconceptions about drinking, and better evaluate their choices.The risks of drinking and the value of avoiding excessive drinking to achieve their academics and career goals are discussed.

Motivation is built up to change drinking, and the drinker’s ideas about drinking are challenged. The interviewing also helps change the drinker's expectancies about alcohol's effects, and clarifies norms through feedback on the drinker's alcohol use in comparison with other students (DeJong et al. , 2009) (“What Colleges Need to Know,” 2007). Some programs also help students develop tailored plans for reducing alcohol use (DeJong et al.

, 2009).It was also found that in-person motivational interviews are more effective than alcohol education sessions. Research also supports using trained student peers as part of the team that provides these interventions (“What Colleges Need to Know,” 2007). However, those most in need of intervention are also those who are least likely to participate in it, so delivering interventions in settings where students experiencing problems with alcohol are more likely to be seen, such as health or counseling centers, may be more effective (“What Colleges Need to Know,” 2007).

. 2. 2 Solutions Proven Least Effective Through Documented Scientific Research School administrators have often repeatedly attempted to address alcohol problems by implementing strategies that have not been researched. As a result, their strategies have often failed to produce the desired results, leading to the demoralization of the administrators (A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U. S. Colleges, 2002).

Solutions that have proven ineffective when used in isolation include: basic awareness and education programs; orientation sessions for new students; alcohol awareness weeks and other special events; and curriculum infusion, wherein instructors introduce alcohol-related facts and issues into their regular academic courses (DeJong, Larimer, Wood, ; Hartman, 2009). Whether they might make an important contribution as part of a more comprehensive prevention program has not yet been demonstrated (DeJong et al. , 2009). 2. 2. 3 Solutions Needing More ResearchNew ideas that have yet to be researched for effectiveness include: web-based training for advisors and counselors; computerized or web-based screening for students, such as all entering freshmen, to identify early on those who are most at risk for alcohol problems; and increased tailoring of interventions designed for women, freshmen, athletes, etc (What Colleges Need to Know Now: An Update on College Drinking Research, 2007).

2. 2. 4 Summary Chart of Solution Effectiveness Figure 1 (A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U. S.Colleges, 2002) 3. 0 CONCLUSION 3.

1 Conclusion Binge drinking by college students is a widespread and serious problem that has enormous costs to colleges, communities, and the students themselves. The costs are not only in money, for repairs of property damage, increased law enforcement, and medical bills; but also in lives, pain, mental and physical trauma and suffering, and the grieving of friends and families who lose loved ones. This problem has been researched, and the causes have been identified, along with several effective solutions.Even more solutions show promise, but are awaiting additional research to see if they will be useful. We now know what we can do about this problem, and what not to do.

The next step is putting that knowledge into action. 3. 2 Recommendation The solutions that have been proven effective should be applied together. The solutions should include community and environmental approaches, as well as individual interventions. Individualized solutions should be a combination of skills-based interventions and motivational interviewing that will strike at the psychological and cultural roots of the problem.

Colleges should partner with city councils to enact limitations to the sales and advertizing of alcohol near the campus. For funding, colleges should appeal to alumni, non-profit organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and the government. Grants from such organizations can be used to put these solutions into action, and to fund additional research on other promising solutions. 3.

3 Benefits In 2001, an estimated 1700 students (aged 18-24) died from alcohol-related unintentional injury (What Colleges Need to Know Now: An Update on College Drinking Research, 2007).A similar number dies from this every year. Who can put a value to those lives? If you asked their parents, families, and friends, could they give a value? If any of these people could have been saved, what might they have gone on to do? No price can be put on a life saved, and the benefit could never be calculated quantitatively. Only one thing is certain; once it is gone, it is lost forever. The benefit of preventing such devastating loss is implicit; it is priceless.

In lives alone, it is a worthy cause, to say nothing of the hundreds of thousands who are injured and assaulted every year.All of it is potentially preventable, and ALL of us benefit. It is not simply a matter of finances. The cost of repairing property damage, medical bills, and insurance deductibles are trivial compared to the human cost of doing nothing.

We have the means; now let us make it end. References A call to action: changing the culture of drinking at U. S. colleges. (2002, April). Retrieved December 11, 2011, from collegedrinkingprevention.

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NIAAA's rapid response to college drinking problems initiative: reinforcing the use of evidence-based approaches in college alcohol prevention. Retrieved December 11, 2011, from nih. gov: http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih.

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Why underage college students drink in excess: qualitative research findings. American Journal of Health Education, 41(2). Retrieved from http://www. eric. ed.

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Magnitude of and trends in alcohol-related mortality and morbidity among U. S. college students ages 18-24, 1998-2005. Retrieved December 11, 2011, from nih.

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Retrieved December 11, 2011, from collegedrinkingprevention. gov: http://www. collegedrinkingprevention. gov/1College_Bulletin-508_361C4E. pdf