Alcoholism in College

Alcoholism in College

College drinking is extremely widespread: about four out of five college students drink alcohol. About half of college students who drink, do so by binge drinking. The first 6 weeks of freshman year is an especially vulnerable time for heavy drinking and alcohol-related consequences because of student expectations and social pressures at the start of the academic year.

College Drinking: Trending Toward Alcoholism in College Students?

A new study shows that 6% of college students meet criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol dependence or alcoholism and 31% meet the clinical criteria for alcohol abuse. The study also found that more than two of every five students report at least one symptom of these conditions, putting them at increased risk of developing a true alcohol disorder.

More than 14,000 students at 119 4-year colleges were surveyed by researchers who then based their findings on these responses. Researches included questions that are based on criteria for the diagnosis of alcohol disorders as set forth by the American Psychiatric Association. Alcohol disorders include alcohol dependence, the most severe, to alcohol abuse, a less advanced, although still serious disorder.

Binge Drinking and Alcoholism in College

Binge drinkers (heavy episodic drinkers) and especially those who frequently binge drink, are at an increased risk of developing one of these alcohol disorders. Heavy episodic drinkers are defined as men who had five or more—or women who had four or more—drinks in a row at least once in a two week period before completing the survey questionnaire. The definition of a frequent heavy episodic drinker is someone who has consumed these amounts at least three times in the previous two weeks.

Further Findings of Alcoholism in College

Students who attend colleges with heavy drinking environments are more likely to be diagnosed with abuse or dependence. Male students are at greater risk than females. Nearly one in 10 college men under age 24 met a 12-month diagnosis of alcohol dependence compared to one in 20 college women under age 24.

Community Impact of Alcoholism in College

Each year, drinking affects college students, as well as college communities, and families.  And it’s clear that there is a relationship between alcohol and crime. The consequences of drinking include:

Death: 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries.

Assault: More than 690,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking.

Sexual Abuse: More than 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.

Injury: 599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 receive unintentional injuries while under the influence of alcohol.

Academic Problems: About 25% of college students report academic consequences of their drinking including missing class, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades overall.

Health Problems: More than 150,000 students develop an alcohol-related health problem.

Suicide Attempts: Between 1.2 and 1.5 percent of students indicate that they tried to commit suicide within the past year due to drinking or drug use.

Drunk Driving: Each year an estimated 3,360,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 drive under the influence of alcohol.

Prevention: Alcoholism in College

Research strongly suggests that prevention strategies geared towards particular groups, specifically individual students, the student body as a whole, the college itself and its surrounding community, can help reduce the frequency and quantity of college drinking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

http://alcoholism.about.com/

http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Alcoholism: Depression, Anxiety and Suicide

Alcoholism: Depression, Anxiety and Suicide

Alcoholism: Depression, Anxiety and Suicide

Alcoholism: Depression, Anxiety and Suicide       

Many people who have alcoholism also suffer from bouts of depression, anxiety and in the worst case scenario when alcoholism is mixed with a mental illness, suicide. Alcoholism compounds the symptoms of depression and anxiety and depression and anxiety can compound on alcoholism. The three together, alcoholism, depression and anxiety all create a negative cycle that if left untreated for some individuals leads to suicide.

Alcoholism: Depression and Anxiety

Many depressed people who do not realize they are suffering from alcoholism drink more alcohol with the hope of gaining relief of the emotion suffering they are experiencing. Unfortunately for many people heavy drinking makes the symptoms of depression worse. The combination of alcoholism and depression is very difficult and makes depression very hard to treat and not just that but the combination of alcoholism and depression increases the risk of suicide due to depression.

It is very common for people to drink to unwind after a stressful day. The reduction of anxiety brought on by drinking is a welcome feeling for many people suffering from depression and the anxiety that comes with it. However, when people start to slide into a mix of depression and anxiety, which usually go together, it is very common for them to increase their drinking as they try harder to overcome their symptoms. More often than not the person does not realize they are gradually increasing the amount of alcohol they consume due to their alcoholism and due to their unpleasant feelings. The problem with using alcohol to treat feelings of depression and anxiety is that it has a rebound effect when the alcohol loses its effect. When the alcohol starts to wear off someone with alcoholism experiences worsening symptoms of their depression and anxiety. If repeated it can get worse and worse eventually leading to a high risk of suicide.

Alcoholism: Depression, Anxiety and Suicide

Untreated depression and anxiety mixed with alcoholism carries with it a high suicide rate. Uncontrolled alcoholism alone carries a fairly high suicide rate without the depression and anxiety. The reason for this is because alcoholism usually causes people to become depressed due to losing careers, families, friends and the future of the alcoholic begins to look bleak.

Most suicide attempts successful and otherwise have happened when people consume alcohol. Drinking and alcoholism causes logic and inhibition to be non-existent. It seems alcoholism kind of takes the will to survive out of the equation. The survival instinct is severely weakened due to lack of inhibition when someone is drinking. So for someone who is suffering from depression and anxiety as well as alcoholism should be very careful because this could be a potentially lethal situation in which the alcoholic’s problems seems to be drowning them and suicide is the only way out. Without the survival instinct to stop them the alcoholic may find themselves ready and willing to end their life. This is a worst case scenario but is very common in alcoholic’s who’s drinking has destroyed their lives. It is even more common in alcoholic’s who suffer from depression and anxiety.

Source: http://www.suicideprevention.ie/Depression.ie/pages/?id=95

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.