COLLEGE STUDENTS & SUBSTANCE USE

A look at use and abuse of Alcohol amongst college students

Introduction

Children are the…future? “Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope

for the future”. - John Fitzgerald Kennedy (American 35th US President)

“Children are our most valuable resource.” - Herbert Hoover. (American 31st President)

“Children are one third of our population and all of our future.” (Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health, 1981)

“I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside.” -Whitney Houston (American Singer & Actress)

Introduction

The saying should go

“Children are our future…as long as they…

Pursue a college education

Make all of the right choices

Don’t succumb to peer pressure

They will be the leader of tomorrow.”

Introduction

Some Facts about college age students & Alcohol

1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes

599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol.

The age of 19 to 24 is associated with the highest prevalence of periodic heavy alcohol consumption during the life span

Our Goal

To show students the difference between Use & Abuse

Use Abuse

VS.

Defining Use

What is a standard drink in the United States?A standard drink is equal to 14.0 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol. Generally, this amount of pure alcohol is found in 12-ounces of beer. 8-ounces of malt liquor. 5-ounces of wine. 1.5-ounces or a “shot” of 80-proof distilled

spirits or liquor (e.g., gin, rum, vodka, or whiskey).

Defining Use

Moderate Use: Means the drinking is not getting you intoxicated, or drunk, and you are drinking no more than 1 drink per day if you are a woman and no more than 2 if you are a man. A drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1½ ounces of liquor.

Defining Use

What do you mean by heavy/binge drinking?

For men, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming an average of more than 2 drinks per day. For women, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming an average of more than 1 drink per day

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism binge drinking is defined as a pattern of alcohol consumption that brings the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level to 0.08% or more. This pattern of drinking usually corresponds to 5 or more drinks on a single occasion for men or 4 or more drinks on a single occasion for women, generally within about 2 hours

Light to Moderate Drinking

Alcohol Affects Memory – Alcohol impairs memory by inhibiting the

transfer and consolidation of information in long-term memory, reducing our ability to remember information that we learned prior to drinking.

Problem Solving - Alcohol deadens the left side of the brain (the rational, logical side) while the right side of the brain (the creative, impulsive side) becomes more active. This can lead to impaired problem solving.

Attention and Concentration – Your attention span is shorter for periods up to forty-eight hours after drinking

Light to Moderate Drinking

GPA & Drinks Consumed

Light to Moderate Drinking

From a national study conducted at four-year colleges and universities by Henry Wechsler

1/3 of drinking students missed class Out of students that drank more than

three times in a week: 60% missed class 46% had fallen behind

Moderate to Heavy Drinking

Some signs of Dependence are:

Drinking more than intended/wanted to

Getting into trouble while drinking

Missing work or school after a drinking episode

Memory Lapses

Moderate to Heavy Drinking

Factors that contribute to Alcohol Dependency

Family history of alcoholism

Frequency of use

Environmental

Socialization

Moderate to Heavy Drinking

Short Term – Binge Drinking

Vandalism

Fights

Injuries

Drunk Driving

Trouble police

Long Term – Binge Drinking

Anemia

Cardiovascular Disease

Cirrohsis

Dementia

Seizures

Conclusion We would like students to reflect on

“Are you at risk?”

“What is my level of use?”

“Is my alcohol use affecting my college career?

References Alcohol andAcademic Performance. (2006). Retrieved October 25, 2011, from

http://www.alcohol.vt.edu/academics.htm. College Drinking Changing the Culture. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2011, from

Collegedrinkingprevention: http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/StatsSummaries/snapshot.aspx Intervening to decrease alcohol abuse at university parties: differential reinforcement of intoxication –

Angela K. Fournier, Ian J. Ehrhart, Kent E. Glindemann and E. Scott Geller Behav Modif 2004 28: 167 DOI: 10. 1177/0145445503259406;

Lloyd D. Johnston, P. M. (2001). Monitoring the Future National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975-2000. In P. M. Lloyd D. Johnston, Volume 1: Secondary School Students. Bethesda, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Measuring college students’ alcohol consumption in natural drinking environments: Field methodologies for bars and parties- John D. Clapp, Megan R holmes, Mark B. Reed, Audrey M. Shillington, Bridget Freisthler and James E Lange. Eval Rev 2007 31: 469 DOI: 10. 1177/0193841X07303582

Personality, alcohol use and drinking motives: A comparison of independent and combined internal drinking motives groups Abby L. Goldstein and Gordon L Flett Behav Modif 2009 33: 182 originally published online 3 October 2008 DOI: 10. 1177/0145445508322920

Residence hall room type and alcohol use among college students living on campus Jennifer E. Cross, Don Zimmerman and Megan O’Grady Environment and Behavior 2009 41: 583 originally published online 13 January 2009 DOI: 10.1177/0013916508328169 http://www.sagepublications.com; http://www.aa.org

United States Department of Agriculture and United States Department of Health and Human Services. (2008, July 09). Retrieved October 28, 2011