2008 Woodie Awards
The medical corner
Binge drinking
Prof. Dennis E. Daniels, MPH, Dr. PH and
Theresa Okeyo-Owour
Medical Correspondents
Issue date: 9/21/05 Section: Lifestyles and Health
- Page 1 of 1
"I can hold my liquor" is a statement that far too many individuals make. The 1989 amendments to the federal Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act required that colleges develop policies to prevent the illegal use of drugs and alcohol on campus. Shortly after passage of this statute, binge drinking became the subject of national attention.
The definition of binge drinking is the subject of discussion for individuals who define it. Some researchers define binge drinking as consuming five or more drinks in a row at one sitting for males and four or more in a row for females (©2002 Guiomar Goransson-Martin).
Harvard University's School of Public Health college alcohol study surveyed students at 119 colleges. The survey noted that 44 percent of U.S. college students engaged in binge drinking during the two weeks before the survey. The survey also stated that 51 percent of the men drank five or more drinks in a row and 40 percent of the women drank four or more drinks in a row. Students more likely to binge drink are white, age 23 or younger, and are residents of a fraternity or sorority. If the students were binge drinkers in high school, they were three times more likely to binge in college. Students cited peer pressure and the desire to get drunk as reasons for binge drinking.
The medical effects of too much alcohol may include a peptic ulcer, damage to the small intestines, gout, liver cancer and other problems. Consistently drinking too much alcohol may result in mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, confusion and addiction.
The annual consequences of alcohol abuse include 1,400 deaths among college students of which 1,100 involve drinking and driving, 400,000 students having unprotected sex and 2.1 million students driving under the influence of alcohol.
Binge drinking is a widespread phenomenon on many college campuses. It is a problem that not only conflicts with the mission and vision of higher education but it also carries with it serious risks of disease, injury, and death.
For more information contact the Owens-Franklin Health Center at (936) 857-2111 or the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention at (800) 676-1730.
The definition of binge drinking is the subject of discussion for individuals who define it. Some researchers define binge drinking as consuming five or more drinks in a row at one sitting for males and four or more in a row for females (©2002 Guiomar Goransson-Martin).
Harvard University's School of Public Health college alcohol study surveyed students at 119 colleges. The survey noted that 44 percent of U.S. college students engaged in binge drinking during the two weeks before the survey. The survey also stated that 51 percent of the men drank five or more drinks in a row and 40 percent of the women drank four or more drinks in a row. Students more likely to binge drink are white, age 23 or younger, and are residents of a fraternity or sorority. If the students were binge drinkers in high school, they were three times more likely to binge in college. Students cited peer pressure and the desire to get drunk as reasons for binge drinking.
The medical effects of too much alcohol may include a peptic ulcer, damage to the small intestines, gout, liver cancer and other problems. Consistently drinking too much alcohol may result in mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, confusion and addiction.
The annual consequences of alcohol abuse include 1,400 deaths among college students of which 1,100 involve drinking and driving, 400,000 students having unprotected sex and 2.1 million students driving under the influence of alcohol.
Binge drinking is a widespread phenomenon on many college campuses. It is a problem that not only conflicts with the mission and vision of higher education but it also carries with it serious risks of disease, injury, and death.
For more information contact the Owens-Franklin Health Center at (936) 857-2111 or the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention at (800) 676-1730.
Be the first to comment on this story