In the current situation, many young people are frequently involved in violence and crimes. One of the risk factors related to violent behaviors among young people is alcohol consumption. “Numerous studies have shown that alcohol and violent behavior are associated” which means “the risk of being involved in violence increases with alcohol intake” (Bye and Rossow 131). In addition, data indicated that young individuals enrolled in colleges or universities were more likely consume alcohol more frequently compared to those who were not currently enrolled (NSDUH Report 744).Hence, it was inferred that the influence of peers plays an important role in alcohol consumption among college students as part of their social life style.
One of the important aspects in college life that needs to be carefully studied is how college students select the crowd they want to be identified with. “College peer affiliations can be classified by a consistent pattern of traits yielding distinct peer crowd groupings” (Sessa 301). Being new in the university environment, it is important that freshmen college students find their way to develop their sense of belongingness.It is a very critical aspect because their selection of the crowd they want to mingle with can either help or destroy them in the future. University students are usually classified depending on their “unique peer crowds” (Sessa 301).
It would be ideal that parents provide proper guidance to their children when selecting their fraternity or sorority in colleges. It is not taking away their freedom, but rather it is providing guidance in order them to make the right decisions. The frequent use of alcohol among college students is impacted by various mechanisms.Peer pressure is a very common to college students. A lot of college students who drink alcohol reported that they consumed alcohol to feel more accepted by their peers.
Students reported that they consume alcohol to “facilitate identity development” within their peer crowd (Sessa 302). Their perceptions of being accepted by the group where they belong to is making sure that they go along with what is acceptable to the group. In regards to the amount of alcohol they consume, students usually consume more alcohol on weekends and school breaks (Bye and Rossow 131).In addition, college students consume alcohol to overcome depression and anxiety. However, college students commented that the risk of being engage in illegal behavior increases as the amount of alcohol they consume increases (Sessa 302).
Most people who drink alcohol, particularly college students, think that consumption of alcohol helps lower their anxiety. On contrary, “several correlation studies have found that as compared to non-problem drinkers, problem-drinking students had higher scores on social-anxiety related measures” (O’Grady, Cullum, Armeli, and Tennen 601).Individuals who consume alcohol drink more during anxiety provoking situations which indicates that the more anxious they are, the more often they will drink. Furthermore, findings indicate “that individuals with low levels of social anxiety display low levels of drinking to cope motivation” and they drink to enhance positive feeling (O’Grady et al. 609). The question is, how long does the feeling of being relieved from anxiety will last? More often, the relief from anxiety last as long as the alcohol is in their system.
So, what will happen once they are back in the reality?Are they really free from their anxiety or the anxiety remains if not worsen? Personal anxiety often results to more serious problems that could involve other people. When the anxiety problems increase the risk of alcohol consumption, most of the time it increase the risk of being involve in situations that might promote violent behavior. There is a possibility that when people with serious anxiety problem are under the influence of alcohol, they are “maybe more prone to attend to threat cues in the environment and thus engage in defensive aggression” (Durrant 375).A person under the influence of alcohol can sometime make illogical decisions that may results to more serious problem. Dealing with personal anxiety needs to be done with professional help in order to avoid more serious problems. Subsequently, anxiety problems among adults are noted to be “associated with both externalizing disorders in childhood and antisocial personality disorder” (Durrant 374) of individuals who had been traumatized by their previous experiences.
Another area to consider in regards to alcohol drinking among college students is the amount of their alcohol intake for each occasion and their drinking pattern. Drinking is not bad as it is, however intoxication is a serious problem. “When it comes to violence, drinking patter has also shown to be an important predictor” (Bye and Rossow 131). According to Bye and Rossow when an individual drinks more than his system can handle, it results to intoxication which can increase the likelihood of having aggressive behavior (131).College students need to learn how to become a responsible drinker.
As mentioned earlier, drinking itself is not bad, but too much drinking is a different story. Knowing your personal limits is important in any occasion. One, two or three bottles per week are not bad at all, however, drinking too much or drinking everyday is not good at all. It is physically and mentally unhealthy. How about the gender differences in drinking alcohol in relation to anxiety? Who drinks alcohol more often because of anxiety problem, women or men?Women maybe just experience the same level of anger like men.
However, women “are much less likely to engage in physical aggression and violence” when they are angry because “they have lower thresholds for fear, which result in the avoidance of risky or dangerous behaviors” (Durrant 376). In contrary, men are usually braver to have competitive and risky behaviors which make them more aggressive and violent. Alcohol consumption plays a role in making person more aggressive in their behavior.There are several individuals who divert their emotions by drinking alcohol without realizing its after-effect.
So, now what do we need to do? How are we going to support these college students who are having alcohol drinking problem? Is it the responsibility of the parents or the school? Keep in mind that these individuals, although they consider themselves independent, are still young and still need guidance. The parents are the main resource of these students. Parents have most of the control in correcting their children’s behavior and their habits of drinking alcohol (Sessa 298).Parents should be the first to remind their children the bad effects of drinking too much. Also, if these students are being financially supported by parents, they can monitor the expenses of their children. In addition, parents can also provide guidance in case in their children are having anxiety and social-relationship problems.
Furthermore, the colleges and university officials can assist by strictly implementing their university policies. When these students are staying on campus or living near the campus vicinity, they can specify their policy about the use of alcohol.According to DeJong, Gomberg-Towvin and Schneider “The highest level of support was for using stricter disciplinary sanctions for students who engage in alcohol-related violence and for those who repeatedly violate campus alcohol policy” (235). Strict implementation of this policy means that colleges and universities are serious about dealing with alcohol-abuse problem among college students.
Aside from protecting the image of their institution, they are also protecting their students from other serious problems. Alcohol drinking problem is a serious problem, particularly among college students.It has to address appropriately and in timely manner. Making college students aware of the consequences of alcohol abuse will open their mind in the reality of its effects. Students need to realize that it is not only them that are hurt when they drink more than the limit.
In addition most of them are still not in the legal age to drink. Alcohol use is not absolute solution to deal with their anxiety and other emotional problems. As a matter of fact, it can worsen the problem. In fighting alcohol-abuse among college students, we need the collaborative efforts from the parents, school and the students themselves.
