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OVERVIEW of COLLEGE STUDENT DRINKING Nancy H. Brand, M.Ed. Doctoral Student in Clinical Psychology

OVERVIEW of COLLEGE STUDENT DRINKING Nancy H. Brand, M.Ed. Doctoral Student in Clinical Psychology University of Rhode Island. “College Students” defined herein as full-time students between the ages of 18-24 attending 2 or 4-year colleges or universities. SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM.

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OVERVIEW of COLLEGE STUDENT DRINKING Nancy H. Brand, M.Ed. Doctoral Student in Clinical Psychology

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  1. OVERVIEW of COLLEGE STUDENT DRINKING Nancy H. Brand, M.Ed. Doctoral Student in Clinical Psychology University of Rhode Island

  2. “College Students” defined herein as full-time students between the ages of 18-24 attending 2 or 4-year colleges or universities

  3. SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM • Nationwide, 44% of college students engage in heavy episodic drinking or “binge” drinking defined as: MEN: as 5 or more drinks in a row over the past 2 weeks WOMEN: 4 or more drinks in a row over the past 2 weeks • Since 1980, estimates of heavy drinking have remained stable between 40-45 percent of college students. • College students drink more than than same age noncollege peers • (source: www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov)

  4. JUST WHO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE??

  5. Heaviest Drinkers tend to be: • Males • whites • members of fraternities and sororities • athletes • first-year students • (source: www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov)

  6. Students who drink the least are likely to attend: • 2-year institutions • religious schools • commuter schools • historically Black colleges and universities • source: www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov)

  7. INDIVIDUAL FACTORS AFFECTING DRINKING BEHAVIOR • Genetic and biological predisposition to use alcohol • Family history of alcohol and drug use • Personality factors (e.g., sensation seeking and impulsivity) • Belief systems (e.g. you can’t have fun without alcohol) • Expectations about the Effects of Alcohol (e.g., drinking will make me more sociable and attractive to others) (source: www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov)

  8. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING DRINKING BEHAVIOR • Geographical Location • Size of student body • Importance of Athletics on Campus • Availability of Alcohol in surrounding community (source: www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov)

  9. SO WHAT! WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL??

  10. THE U.S. SURGEON GENERAL AND THE DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HAVE DECLARED THAT HEAVY DRINKING IS THE NUMBER ONE HEALTH PROBLEM AFFECTING COLLEGE STUDENTS (source: www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov)

  11. Alcohol-Related Consequences • DEATH: 1400 college students die in alcohol-related accidents a year • ASSAULT: 600,000 students are assaulted by others who are under the influence of alcohol • INJURY: 500,000 students are unintentionally injured because of heavy drinking • SEXUAL ABUSE: 70,000 students are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape • (source: www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov)

  12. Alcohol-Related Consequences (cont.) • Academic Performance: 25% report academic consequences as a result of drinking such as missing class, performing poorly on exams and papers, and falling behind • Health problems: 150,000 develop health related problems • Unsafe sex: 400,000 students had unprotected sex and more than 100,000 students reported being too drunk to know if they consented to sex • (source: www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov)

  13. APPROXIMATELY 55% of STUDENTS WHO ABSTAIN or DRINK IN MODERATION ARE AFFECTED BY SOMEONE ELSE’S DRINKING such as: • being humiliated or assaulted • having property damaged • experiencing unwanted sexual advance • (source: www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov)

  14. SO WHAT’S BEING ABOUT THIS?

  15. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE and ALCOHOLISM (NIAAA) TASK FORCE ON COLLEGE STUDENT DRINKING EMPHASIZES THE NEED TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF COLLEGE STUDENT DRINKING BY TARGETING: 1. The college and it’s surrounding community 2. The student population as a whole 3. Individuals, including at-risk or alcohol-dependent drinkers (source: www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov)

  16. PROMISING INTERVENTIONS: The college and its surrounding community (environmental strategies) • Provide Alcohol-free options for recreational, social and cultural events and venues • Restrict alcohol availability and advertising on and off-campus • Social Norms Correction • Develop and enforce campus policies and and local, state and federal laws (source: DeJong & Langford, 2002)

  17. PROMISING INTERVENTIONS: GROUP and INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS • Expectancy challenge procedures • Brief motivational feedback interviews • Alcohol skills training (source: DeJong & Langford, 2002)

  18. LESS EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS • Standard Alcohol Awareness Education Programs(e.g., alcohol awareness weeks, freshman orientation, and curriculum infusion where faculty introduce alcohol-related factors and issues into courses) • Values Clarification Programs

  19. RATIONALE: • Harm reduction (vs. abstinence) • Strategies to encourage students to drink in moderation in order to avoid the consequences of risky drinking • In other words, help students enjoy the good things about drinking (socializing, having fun) while avoiding the bad things about drinking (hangovers, DUIs, unplanned sex)

  20. WHAT CONSTITUTES MODERATE DRINKING?

  21. BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS (BAL) < .055 (legal driving limit (.08) in most states) Biphasic effect of Alcohol: Stimulating effects up to .055 (approximately 1-2 drinks for women and 2-3 for men over several hours depending on weight) . Most people report feeling relaxed and happy at these levels. Depressant effects beyond .055 (3 or more and 4 or more for men depending on weight). These lead to impaired judgement, motor coordination, as well as hangovers and other unwanted consequences

  22. Biphasic effect of Alcohol • Happy • Outgoing • Energetic .055 >.10 BAL levels .055 • Hangovers • Missing class or work • Sex w/ scary people Feelings/effects BAL(F) BAL(M)

  23. MODERATION • YOU AVOID: • hangovers • embarrassment • weight gain • pressure from family/schoo about grades • long-term health consequences • tolerance and heavy drinking • regrettable sexual encounters • YOU GAIN: • Save $$ • maintain control • maintain desired academic performance • Maintain healthy relationships with others

  24. STRATEGIES FOR MODERATED DRINKING • Eat before drinking (can cut BAL’s up to 50%!! • Space your drinks • Alternate alcoholic drinks w/ non-alcoholic drinks • avoid drinking games • experiment with drinking less and refusing drinks • drink reduced alcohol beer instead of stronger spirits • drink slower

  25. FACT or MYTH: Heavy drinking is the norm on most college campuses

  26. Believe it or not…. • Moderate drinking is the norm on nearly all campuses!!! (55-60% of college students drink in moderation. • The average female college student drinks 5/week • The average male college student drinks 10/week. • IN both cases, BAL levels are about .05 per week. • FURTHERMORE, students drinking in these ranges report very few-- if any alcohol related consequences!

  27. PART 2: HOW TO EVALUATE THIS INFORMATION WHEN IT SEEMS LUDICROUS

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