Binge Drinking on College Campuses
"Me and my friends were all sitting in a circle playing the drinking game power hour, but instead of drinking a beer every minute for an hour we all took a shot every five minutes. Being the sneaky guy that I am, I took a few extra shots in between. By the end of the two hours we played, I must have at least taken twenty shots. That was the most I have ever drank in one sitting," said Hector M, a student at Penn State Berks.Binge drinking, defined as the consumption of five or more drinks in a row on at least one occasion, is a widespread phenomenon on most college campuses. In a survey of students at 140 colleges by researchers from the Harvard University School of Public Health, 44% reported binge drinking (five or more drinks in a row for men, four or more for women during the past two weeks). Half of all males binged, compared with 39% of females. The study classified 19% of all students as "frequent binge drinkers" who binge three or more times in two weeks (23% of men and 17% of women). At almost one-third of the colleges surveyed, more than half of students reported binge drinking. This problem does not only interferes with the mission of a higher education but also carries with it serious risks of disease, injury, an
Nearly one-quarter of heavy-drinking students had engaged in vandalism. That experience changed the way I drink today," M stated. Bingers perceive many benefits out of drinking. "For many freshman, it is their first time away from home, and they don't know what kinds of things they can do on campus," Peter Czabafy, a drug and alcohol educator said. The effects of heavy drinking are widespread and not limited to vandalism and noise. "We must start trying to reduce this huge problem. Alcohol, on the other hand, gives an easy high, and an escape from the stress. "The need to grow up quickly and feel adult can lead students to begin drinking when they are too young or uninformed to make effective decisions. In those surveyed, 65% believe drinking "breaks the ice" and enhances social activity, 55% say it gives them something to do, and 54% believe it allows people to have fun and aids sexual opportunity (Wechsler, 1996). Of those surveyed, 61% reported missing class after a night of drinking, 54% regret or forget what they did, 41% had unplanned sex, and 23% injured themselves or damaged property (Wechsler, 1996). "I believe that alcohol is the heart of many problems at colleges across the nation," Czabafy said. "I am not against having fun," Czabafy said. Finally, less than half of binge drinkers considered religion an important part of their lives (Wechsler, 1996). To begin to change society's views, colleges must implement intense education programs as well as offer alternate social outlets for students. The social norms of Greek membership appear to greatly influence the attitudes and expectations of Greek members regarding alcohol use.
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