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The Dangers of Binge Drinking
By Lillian Pastor
So they say college is about finding yourself, but what if you find yourself passed out and drunk on the floor of a party? Not necessarily what the fortune teller told you when you handed her $20, is it?
You are bound to encounter binge drinkers in college, and what they don’t know can definitely hurt them. Binge drinking, which is defined as 4 or more drinks, can have a tremendous negative effect in their future—everything from damaging family relationships to not reaching graduation. But unfortunately not many people are aware of the risks and consequences of binge drinking.
Alcohol poisoning, being one of them; it is the most fatal reaction to over drinking. Most people aren’t aware of the frequency of alcohol poisoning not to mention its end results. A person can choke on their vomit or suffer from severe dehydration, which can result in a coma. It’s a harsh reality: people die because they were drunk when they fell off a balcony or down a flight of stairs or, the most common way, because they or someone else was driving drunk.
Although binge drinking statistics range in colleges, researchers say that members of fraternities and sororities have a higher rate of substance abuse. Binge drinking on campus has always been of concern, but what exactly is being done to take care of the problem?
WHO BINGES?
- 51 percent of the MEN drank five or more drinks in a row
- 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 in a fraternity or sorority
- Students who were binge drinkers in high school were three times more likely to binge in college
- 44 percent of U.S. college students engaged in binge drinking during the two weeks before the survey
Facts from: www.cspinet.org/booze/collfact1.htm
Luckily officials in a number of colleges have enforced strict policies on alcohol. Some campuses offer treatment programs in the effort to change drinking behaviors, and sometimes these programs are useful. What’s most effective, though, is help from peers who can always be more understanding than a stiff doctor. Students can also help themselves by hosting non-alcohol parties or at the least and limiting their alcohol consumption, as well as the amount of money spent on it.
Another useful tip is instead of having drinks handed to you, pour them yourself; you’ll have the advantage of knowing how much and what you’re drinking. And as you’re pouring your own drinks, keep in mind that more than four drinks is defined as binge drinking.
If you are going to drink, do so with friends rather than drinking alone. Drinking with others could lower the risk of passing out and/or death from over drinking.
Despite the changes that have been made—About.com writes that colleges having banned alcohol at public events, sororities becoming alcohol free, and campus police taking a stronger approach to drunk driving—the issue of binge drinking continues. It’s just something we all have to be aware of that is out there. It’s not a disease. It’s a habit, so kick it to the curb.
Email Lillian your thoughts: outloud@outloud.com