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THE DANGERS OF BINGE DRINKING

College alcoholism is something that affects millions of teens every year. When moving away from your parents and moving onto campus is a time where many students decide to experiment with alcohol. It is estimated that 50 percent of students engage in binge drinking. The dangers that can come out of binge drinking include, blacking out, injuries, risky decisions, or even death.

Many young adults have admitted to have started drinking even before they have entered college or university. After graduating from their high school is when their alcohol usage intensifies due to their newfound freedom and independence.

What is Binge Drinking?

Binge drinking is defined when a person drinks an excessive amount of alcohol in a very short timeframe. This definition of binge drinking varies between gender. For women it is drinking at least four or more drinks in two hours and for men it is drinking five or more drinks in a two hour time period.

It has been mentioned that teens are at a higher risk period of binge drinking during their first few weeks of being at university. When first coming to college or university many tend to fall into peer pressure which results in them drinking way too much that they can handle. These people want to fit in and make new friends so they keep drinking without paying attention to the potential harms they are causing to themselves.

The Consequences of Heavy Drinking in College

Nearly majority of students have been faced with the consequences of alcohol use during their school year. For example, a student can witness their friends drinking pattern worsen over time throughout the school year. Heavy drinking does not only affect that person but it can also effect others surrounded by that person. For example, it can ruin friendships and relationships.

How are schools intervening?

The most effective way schools handle this situation is something called the population prevention approach. Universities had often treated alcohol as an individual problem. The efforts to target these people individually has not shown any efforts to reduce the number of heavy drinkers on campus. Whereas, with the population prevention approach targets the entire college university as a whole to reduce the number of binge drinkers on campus. The population approach has been found to be the most effective in reducing the harm of college students becoming heavy drinkers.

Committing criminal activities

Being under the influence of alcohol can result in a person in acting very irrationally and sometimes violent. Drinking too much can entirely change a persons behavior. Many actions a person does when drunk, they would not do if they were sober. Highly intoxicated students can bring tons of danger. For example, they can partake in activities such as vandalism, property damage, and driving under the influence.

Sometimes drinking too much can result in others being in danger as well. Kidnapping, homicide, and other harmful criminal activities is very possible when a student is under the influence.

SOURCES:

“Binge Drinking Is a Serious but Preventable Problem of Excessive Alcohol Use.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30 Dec. 2019, http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm.

Collins, Ben. “Heavy Drinking a Problem at Most Canadian Campuses: Report.” University Affairs, http://www.universityaffairs.ca/news/news-article/heavy-drinking-a-problem-at-most-canadian-campuses-report/.

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