Have you ever seen a movie about life on a college campus?
Are there any that don’t portray those years as one long, alcohol-filled party?
Sure, movies don’t necessarily reflect reality. But the truth remains that there is a lot of alcohol consumed on college campuses. According to the National Institutes of Health, 4 out of 5 college students drink alcohol and about half admit to binge-drinking. The statistics don’t stop there. Check these out:
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Death: 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries.
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Assault: More than 690,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking.
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Sexual Abuse: More than 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.
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Academic Problems: About 25 percent 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.
Clearly alcohol consumption on college campuses is a big deal. But, universities are doing something about it. The University of Colorado (my alma mater!) recently announced a sober living option for students in recovery who wish to live with other students abstaining from alcohol and drugs. Check it out:
University of Colorado Collegiate Recovery Center
When I did a quick search for other universities and colleges in my area, I found that almost all offered some sort of substance abuse treatment program; typically through their counseling center. If you or someone you know is a college student and struggling with substance use – it’s important to know there are options – and those options appear to be growing.
For more information about how much alcohol is too much, read more.