Health and Behavioral Consequences of Binge Drinking in College Essay

Objective To examine the purpose of farce drink by college students and the ensuing health and behavioral problems that binge drinkers create for themselves and others on their campus.Design Self-administered survey mailed to a matter representative sample of US 4-year college students.Setting One hundred xl US 4-year colleges in 1993.Participants A total of 17,592 college students.Main Outcome Measures Self-reports of insobriety demeanour, alcohol-related health problems, and other problems.Results Almost half (44%) of college students responding to the survey were binge drinkers, including closely one fifth (19%) of the studenst who were frequent binge drinkers. Frequent binge drinkers argon much likely to experience seious health and other consequences of their drinking behaviour than other students. Almost half (47%) of the frequent binge drinkers experienced louver or more different drinking related problems, including injuries and engaging in unplanned sex, sin ce the beginning of the school year.Most binge drinkers do non consider themselves to be problem drinkers and have not sought interposition for an alcohol problem. Binge drinkers create problems for classmates who are not binge drinkers. Students who are not binge drinkers at schools with higher binge rates were more liekly than students at schools with lower binge rates to experience problems such as being pushed, hit, or assualted or experiencing an unwanted sexual advance.Conclusions Binge drinking is widespread on college campuses. Programs aimed at reducing this problem should focus on frequent binge drinkers, refer them to treatment or educational programs, and show the harm they cause for students who are not binge drinkers