Sara Truedson
Staff Writer
The Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) released a report on Mar. 1 indicating an alarming rise in binge drinking among college women, part of a trend of drinking and drug use on college campuses nationwide. A once male-dominated statistic, females now seem to be competitive with their male counterparts. Alcohol, drugs and sex do play a prominent and potentially dangerous role in the college life.
There is a 16 percent rise between 1993 and 2005 in the number of full-time college students who acknowledge frequent binge drinking. Binge drinking was up 22 percent in women, nearly double the increase in men. The report from the CASA branch at Columbia University also indicates non-medical use of narcotic drugs like OxyContin and Vicodin shot up 343 percent between 1993 and 2005.
College is about finding yourself, experimenting and experiencing new things, however there is a fine line between fun and jeopardizing one’s health, safety and future. Peer pressure is something we have all had to deal with since we were young. The importance of good judgment and self control needs to be foremost in the minds of young adults.
The rise in alcohol abuse specifically among women is a concern. Rather than focusing on the statistics of this issue, we should focus on the reasons women binge drink and appropriate ways to educate them regarding this growing problem.
There are many probable causes as to why college women binge-drink. Women feel safer and more equal with males in today’s society, but this liberation should not be proven by drinking excessively.
Many children grew up with such rigidity and lack of communication that, for them, drinking is a form of rebellion. Others may feel social pressure, academic pressure, low self-esteem and think that numbing themselves is a solution, albeit temporary.
Regardless of the reasons people engage in this type of behavior, it is important for them to understand the underlying reasons driving their choices and make conscious decisions based on fact, not fantasy.
To be dependent on anything is unhealthy. But, there is more research being done about the role of neurochemistry and the addictive personality, which will shed new insights and help for those who suffer. Also, there seems to be less of a stigma and more opportunities for people to get help
Society should not judge a woman’s character by her binge drinking. Binge-drinking for some women and men, is a phase, which hopefully they will outgrow. However, for some it continues to be a life-long problem. Many feel that harsher bans and laws against drinking on college campuses or even raising the drinking age is a solution to this problem. That is putting a bandage on the problem. We need to dig deep and figure out why people are acting in self-destructive ways. If the law has not stopped anyone thus far, it will likely not in the future. A new, perhaps a less punitive approach to dealing with this very prevalent issue should come to order.
Since binge drinking among college students stopping or even diminishing is not likely, I believe that peer support groups and candid education could be helpful, as well as personal introspection. Irresponsible alcohol and drug consumption do have a direct correlation to other serious issues surrounding college campuses such as sexual assault and death.
What we can encourage students to do is know and listen to themselves and their bodies. If drinking, students should maintain good judgment and understand that one poor choice could change their lives in a second. The bottom line is, being smart about partying is the only thing that can be asked of students, in hopes that no lesson is ever learned too late.
03-22-2007