Alcohol use affects entire campus

Alcohol is a major topic for many college students across the nation, whether it concerns Friday night plans or new regulations. Regardless of whether a college-aged student drinks on a regular basis or rarely or never, alcohol has the potential to affect everyone.

A recent study conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism released in June was found that the rate of alcohol-related deaths for college-aged students rose and that drinking habits and driving habits did not differ much between young adults who attended college and those who didn't.

Researchers multiplied the Census Bureau's number of 18- to 24-year-olds in the U.S. by the estimated percentage of alcohol-related deaths of the same age group, as reported by 331 medical examiner studies. The result was then multiplied by 30 percent since three-tenths of the age group attend college, revealing some shocking results.

The number of alcohol-related unintentional injury deaths among college-aged students between 18 and 24 rose from 1,440 in 1998 to 1,825 in 2005, according to the study. These deaths were either caused by binge drinking, drunk driving or accidents caused from drinking in excess.

One USC media arts alum said she feels many college-aged people might drink and drive because they trust themselves behind the wheel even under the influence, or possibly because they underestimate their level of inebriation. However, she does think this age group can drink within reason.

"I do think it's possible for 18- to 24-year-olds to party most nights and live to tell about it," Jessica Smith said. "I'm sure plenty of people don't remember nights from college years and turn into successful people, but things do have a way of catching up to us."

GAMMA President Ndidi Ekpenuma said the restrictions imposed on students, such as dry dorms or the drinking age, sometimes yield opposite results of what the rules are intended for.

"Many feel the need to consume quickly in a short amount of time instead of spacing drinks," Ekpenuma, a fourth-year visual communications student, said. "They feel the need to get it in all at once because they have a small window where they supposedly won't get caught, so they'll feel good the rest of the night."

That doesn't mean she wants to get rid of the rules, but rather to raise awareness and educate college-age students on the potential dangers of alcohol abuse. She said she believes college-age students are completely capable of drinking responsibly. But they need to plan in order to do this, such as ensuring a designated driver for the night, she said.

An analysis of college students' drinking habits and driving habits versus non-college students found college students tend to drink more and drive under the influence just as much as those who are the same age but not in college. Researchers therefore concluded that college students suffered alcohol-related deaths as often as non-college students of the same age.

Smith said she was surprised alcohol-related deaths occur in college students as often as non-college students since college is a "more controlled environment as far as partying goes." But, she said it's not about the setting, but more so the age of people and the amount of drinking.

"Whether you're in a party setting at college or a party setting outside of college, everyone is still in the same age group and people do the same stuff," Smith said.

Binge drinking could stem from a plethora of reasons for college students, said Darrel Schaver, a licensed counselor at the Columbia Counseling Center. It could stem from peer pressure, school stress, depression, family issues, a sign of adulthood or an attempt to express new found freedom.

Binge drinking due to peer pressure is most likely more present in freshmen and sophomores.

"College is exciting but the students tend to leave behind a lot of familiar support systems," which could result in binge drinking, Schaver said.

Many juniors and seniors continue to binge drink, but are more likely to do so as a way to relax and have fun as a part of their social system, rather than drinking as a source of pressure, Schaver said.

Education and learning by observation is key to preventing the dangers of binge drinking. Schaver said the more consequences of negative drinking behaviors that are shown to college students, the better the chances will be to prevent binge drinking for at least a portion of the students.