As
a college student you have become a member of a community that can
use your help. And, the high risk use of alcohol and the other drugs
can create serious problems in your campus community. As you look
around your campus you can see these problems can have a dramatic
impact on not only your own life but the lives of everyone around
you. You can help in reducing these problems. How you help is up to
you. But, the value of your contribution cannot be underestimated.
WHY BOTHER?
Extensive research indicates that abstainers and low risk drinkers
experience widespread harm resulting from others’ misuse of alcohol.
Secondary binge effects can range from interrupted study and sleep
to destruction of property, assault, and unwanted sexual advances.
Here’s just one example of a “secondary binge effect.”
You spend the evening out with a friend including dinner, a movie,
maybe even a drink or two. The evening comes to an end and you head
back to your residence hall. Upon your arrival to your room you see
your roommate asleep in your bed. This may not disturb you so you
choose to sleep in your roommate’s bed. Then you find out why
your roommate is in your bed. Your roommate moved to your bed because
she had vomited in her own bed.
The secondary effects of binge drinking jeopardize the collegial and
scholarly environment that university administrators and faculty hope
to create for their students. Some might argue that most heavy drinkers,
if left alone, will eventually learn from the adverse consequences
of their drinking and, as they mature, will approach alcohol consumption
with a greater sense of responsibility. This is not always true, and
in the meantime, other students, both non-bingers and those who abstain,
are left to fend for themselves against the inconsiderate, insulting,
intimidating, and sometimes criminal behavior of their binge drinking
classmates.
On
campuses where high risk drinking (also referred to as binge drinking)
is done by more than half the students, fully 87 percent of the non-binge
drinkers who lived in dormitories, fraternities, or sororities experienced
one or more negative consequences caused by the excessive drinking
by other students.
And,
the grades of non-drinkers may also be impacted negatively since on
these same campuses 70% of the students report having their studying
or sleep interrupted by drinkers. even on low drinking-level campuses,
with 35 percent or fewer students classified as binge drinkers, a
substantial majority, 62 percent, also reported experiencing such
consequences. In other words, on campuses, the heavier the drinking
the more students - even non-drinking or low risk drinking students
- are negatively affercted by alcohol.
Therefore,
contributing to the education and abuse prevention efforts on your
campus has the potential for improving the lives of not only the high
risk drinkers themselves but also everyone being impacted by the excessive
drinking of others.
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The best thing I can do is live a healthy life and be a role model
for new students.
John R., Keene State College senior
IMAGINARY PEERS
Throughout this site you have been reading a number
of stories and some statistics that seem to indicate the majority
of students are drinking and having problems as a result of that consumption.
However, I have also tried to reinforce the fact that choosing to
abstain from alcohol or drink alcohol at a low risk level is really
not unusual. Despite all the aforementioned tragedies occurring in
the lives of many stuidents, ongoing research indicates 17 percent
of college students do not drink, 18 percent drink between one and
six times per year, 42 percent drink between one and four times per
month and yet 24 percent drink three or more times per week. Reports
on other drinking patterns also indicate that a majority of students
drink at a low risk level: 48 percent of college students average
either none or one drink per week and 29 percent average between two
and nine drinks per week.80 (Nine drinks per week could be low risk
depending upon the age and gender of the drinker as well as how many
are consumed in one sitting.)
It is common for many students, especially students who drink heavilty,
to dismiss these survey results as misrepresentations or outright
lies by the survey respondents. Without going into the details of
how the validity of these numerous surveys is established, let me
assure you, the results are reliable. Even if there are some discrepancies
in the results, the bottom line is only a minority of students around
the country drink at a high risk level—yes a high profile minority—but
a minority nonetheless. How do we come to believe that “everyone”
is abusing alcohol when the data suggests large numbers are either
abstaining or consuming at a low risk level? Some possible factors
include:
- The intoxicated student makes a vivid impression by being loud,
aggres
sive, obnoxious or promiscuous.
- Observers, especially when drinking, do not notice their less obvious,
non-using peers but rather tend to observe other drinkers.
- Non-drinkers and low risk drinkers are not as likely to gather in
large, obvious groups or settings such as alcohol-related parties.
- People who are having a good time at a party and abstaining or drinking
minimally could appear to be drinking excessively.
- Typical conversations focus on excessive alcohol use and little
conversation portrays restraint in any positive light. (People who
abstain or drink minimally are not very likely to say something like
“I had a blast at that party. It was great and a lot of us didn’t
drink any booze.”)
In summary, “the abuse of alcohol in student groups and social
settings may be recalled more vividly and quickly than actions surrounding
abstinence or moderation, thereby getting a disproportionate amount
of attention in peer conversation as well as in mass media news and
popular entertainment images. The inordinate public attention and
peer talk about the antics of intoxicated peers and campus drinking
events may inflate a student’s sense of what is normal or typical
behavior among peers. Athletes or fraternity and sorority affiliates
may have higher levels of alcohol use than the campuswide average
at some institutions and, simultaneously, may have greater visibility
in the campus culture than most other students, potentially further
distorting perceptions of what is characteristic of most students.”
One of the most interesting challenges professionals face today in
educating students about this issue is understanding the reality that
most college students either do not drink or if they do, they do so
at a low risk level. Why is it important that we reduce the misperception
that most students are high risk drinkers? Well, consider this. National,
regional and campus surveys of college students indicate that many
students greatly overestimate the amount of high-risk drinking that
occurs on college campuses. Based on this misperception, some students
may conclude that high-risk drinking is the social norm. This in turn
could lead students to increase their own alcohol consumptionin in
an attempt to participate in what they imagine is normal drinking
In other words, the misperception may cause students to believe they
are both justified and pressured to consume large amounts of alcohol
in order to be like other students - their imaginary peers.
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CONTRIBUTING
Each individual on your campus is responsible for his
or her own choices. However, we can all be responsible to each other
as well. If you are concerned about the health and safety of your
peers, there are a number of opportunities for you to be a contributing
member of your campus community. In his book The Education of Character,
Dr. Will Keim says it best when it comes to getting involved. “Contributors
are men and women of character who are open to the ideas of others.
They search for better ways to do things, never say ‘never’
and are teachable people who are willing to learn. Contributors are
responsible and imaginative and work for the betterment of all concerned.
They utilize existing resources and solicit new ones. Contributors
treat other people as they would like to be treated and ‘own
their own evaluations’ of others. They are respected because
they respect others and are good stewards of themselves and their
organizations. Contributors develop a good sense of humor and laugh
with others, not at them. Contributors admit mistakes and are patient
with themselves and others. They are men and women of integrity who
say what they mean and do what they say.”
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HELPING YOUR CAMPUS
Most campuses have an administrator, staff member or
committee responsible for the development and implementation of alcohol
and other drug education and abuse prevention programs. Consult with
them to find out what you can do. I am sure they will welcome your
energy, dedication and contribution to these programs. Here are some
ways you can help:
- Participate in peer outreach programs.
- Help develop Alcohol Awareness Week if your campus conducts such
an event.
- Assist residential life staff in developing educational and social
programs.
- Support social events conducted by your Student Activities Department.
- If you join a campus organization, be sure the members understand
their responsibility for conducting social events and follow appropriate
party management guidelines.
- Participate in discussions about campus alcohol and other drug policies
with campus leaders.
- Work with campus administrators and committees in reducing the role
of alcohol in the campus environment.
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