You’ve seen it in movies: college students at raucous parties dancing and drinking from red plastic cups until they pass out. It’s not just fiction, either. In 2022, 29% of full-time college students between the ages of 18 and 22 reported being engaged in binge drinking at least once in the previous month.¹ Binge drinking in college may seem like part of the typical experience, but it can have serious consequences.
To be able to help yourself or your child break away from the dangers that heavy drinking poses, it’s essential to understand why it occurs. Learn more about this issue and the strategies that can help address it.
Understanding Binge Drinking in College
Harmful and underage college drinking is a significant concern on campuses throughout the country. While all underage drinking is a problem, binge drinking is especially dangerous. Binge drinking refers to the practice of drinking enough alcohol to bring the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level up to 0.08% or more.
For a typical adult male, this means five or more drinks in two hours. For an adult female, it’s generally four drinks in two hours.² Unfortunately, full-time college students have higher binge drinking rates than the general population, including others in their same age group. There are a few reasons for this.
For many young adults in college, it’s their first time being away from home for an extended period. When combined with the academic rigor of college classes, this can lead to higher stress levels, prompting them to engage in drinking. Because alcohol slows down the central nervous system, it can seem like it’s helping manage anxiety.
Alcohol consumption is also a major social activity for those in college. Students want to fit in and unwind with their peers, and that frequently means coming in contact with alcohol. Peer pressure can lead to drinking even if a person wouldn’t have chosen to drink. It can even prompt students to consume more than they feel comfortable with.
Alcohol also helps to lower inhibitions. During college years, the pressure to be sexually active can be an issue for many students, especially young women. To manage this stress, they may turn to alcohol.
Dangers of Binge Drinking in College
Binge drinking is dangerous for people of all ages, but it can be particularly troubling in young adults. The brain finishes developing in your mid to late 20s, which means that consuming significant amounts of alcohol can cause structural changes that impact you for the rest of your life.³
Drinking and alcohol dependence can lead to academic problems as well. You could have trouble finishing a project as a result of drinking and its aftermath. Missing classes is also common, with students who binge drink being five times more likely to miss a class than those who don’t.⁴ There’s also a tendency for drinking to lead students to perform poorly during exams.
Additionally, college students who engage in binge drinking are more likely to suffer assaults. They have a higher chance of getting into fights or being sexually assaulted by another student. This could result in sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies, and significant psychological trauma.
It’s important to remember, too, that alcohol overdoses can be deadly. Because alcohol depresses the central nervous system, it can cause the breathing mechanism to stop working and slow your heart rate to dangerous levels. Alcohol also impacts your gag reflex, which could lead you to choke on your vomit.
Binge drinking in college can lead to the development of an alcohol use disorder (AUD) as well. Because the brain is still developing, excessive alcohol has the potential to cause chemical changes that result in alcohol dependence and addiction.
Strategies to Help Reduce Binge Drinking
Whether you’re a parent of a college-aged child or you’re struggling with binge drinking in college yourself, there are strategies you can adopt to manage this problem. Perhaps one of the most important is to communicate.
If you suspect your child is struggling with alcohol, having an honest conversation about it can make a significant difference. For some students, reaching out to counselors or other mental health professionals to speak about the problems and stresses of college life can help prevent relying on alcohol. For others, getting help can mean entering an alcohol treatment program.
Fostering a positive environment at home can be crucial, too. This lets your child know they can turn to you if they need guidance. Encourage your teenager or young adult to share their struggles by ensuring you won’t be judgmental about what they’re going through.
As a student, you can also set boundaries around drinking. Letting people know that you don’t drink can prevent situations where you may be pressured to consume more than you want. It can also give you an idea of your triggers. If being in a particular place or spending time with particular people gives you the urge to drink excessively, the best option is to avoid those triggers.
Get Help From Desert Cove Recovery
Are you or a loved one in college struggling with binge drinking? If so, getting help could be just a phone call away. At Desert Cove Recovery, we offer a variety of programs to guide you through the process of breaking free from alcohol. Call us today to speak with one of our admissions people about your options.
Sources:
[1] https://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/statistics/prevalence [2] https://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/sites/cdp/files/documents/1College_Bulletin-508_361C4E.pdf [3] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-teen-brain-7-things-to-know [4] https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/college-drinking
