My Reflection Of My Writing

In Henry Wechsler’s, “Getting Serious about Eradicating Binge Drinking”, he discusses the issue of binge drinking. Binge drinking is an extensive problem on college campuses. The majority of colleges merely focus on the student, rather than what encourages students to drink. Fraternities, sororities, and athletics are huge sources of the students on campus who drink. There are many approaches colleges can take to decrease the problem, and many colleges are already getting a head start. It is also important to not ignore how often colleges indirectly encourage students to drink (20).

The literature on college binge drinking and student’s academic performance are for the most part; focused on an essential constituent or characteristic that has been revealed. During the past ten months, research has become an essential basis in regards to college binge drinking and the effects said behavior is having on those college students who choose to over-indulge. Given the situation over the literature pertaining to college binge drinking and poor academic grades, it is important to ask if such research is assisting college students in proper alternatives when choosing to consume alcohol (College Drinking, 2005). In order for success; college students must put in the effort; and participate in surveys,

“From the moment freshmen set foot on campus, they are steeped in a culture that encourages them to drink, and drink heavily. At many schools, social life is still synonymous with alcohol-lubricated gatherings” (Cohen). Binge drinking is a huge aspect of the culture of college life; many college students binge drink to become socially accepted in a particular group. Binge drinking is not only

The overconsumption of alcohol in a single occasion or Binge drinking on North American college campuses has become an integral part of residential college campus culture. Binge drinking according to the CDC, is defined as the consumption of four or more drinks for women, and more than five drinks for men. It is becoming the norm on residential campuses and students above or below the legal drinking age are engaging in Binge drinking. This behavior can be dangerous, for both adults and youths. Binge drinking has been responsible for more than half of an estimated 80, 000 deaths each year in the United States during 2002-2015. Binge drinking is more common amongst adult and youth males between the ages of 18-24, in the United States. The culture of a college residential campus has great influence on the frequency of the behavior within all age groups and both sexes. Although men were reported to over-consume alcohol more than women, the number of binge drinkers is increasing for the female youth and young adults. Similar to men, the most reported age for female binge drinkers was 18- 24 years old. Interestingly, binge drinking was more prevalent in households with annual incomes of $75,000 or more.

Since 1997, binge drinking has been increasing each year (Wechsler, Lee, & Kuo. 2010). Binge drinking is no stranger to San Jose State University as well as college campuses nationwide (Police Department, n.d.). Binge drinking has been on epidemic on college campuses and continues to grow over the course of time with alarming numbers of incidents that occur while under the influence. Since binge drinking is common on most college campuses, about 60% of students nationwide have stated that they have binge drank during their college years (College Drinking Fact Sheet, 2015).

Research has supported the observation that young people in America consume alcohol regularly; this prevalence of use increases rapidly during adolescence, as well as a few years afterward (Wagenaar and Wolfson 37). This has come to be a problem among college students. It has been shown through extensive quantitative and qualitative research that those under twenty-one years of age are able to obtain alcohol, which allows them to binge drink. Binge drinking holds many problems for college students: alcohol poisoning, DUIs, traffic accidents, and even fatalities.

I am writing about the dangers of binge drinking with special emphasis on college aged students. The prevalence of drinking games found at parties cause and support heavy drinking. Because first year college students are in a drastically new setting after leaving home for the first time, they become highly influenced by others. Without authority figures present telling them how to act or what is best for them, first year college students tend to spiral out of control. If they become caught up in the wrong crowd, it is a slippery slope from social drinking to binge drinking. Before long, alcoholism is a harsh slap in the face.

The most important aspect of college is your academics. Getting straight A’s or relative to that will get you far in life. Adding academic studies with binge drinking can give you an unpleasant surprise. After a wild night of drinking and partying leaves you with a hangover the next day. Of all college students 32–44% reporting binge drinking. “Not surprisingly, 60–75% of college students experience at least one hangover a year, 27% report one to two hangovers and 34% report 12–51 hangovers.” (Howland, 655) With this data we know that that roughly one-third of college students have multiple hangovers which indicates that they are probably the binge drinkers. With all this information we can conclude that binge drinking does have an affect on college students academic levels, but then again it depends on the student itself. It also depends how many drinks the student has consumed, how much alcohol the body can obtain until drunk, and how well the student functions after the hangover. “We do not conclude, however, that excessive drinking is not a risk factor for academic problems. It is possible that a higher alcohol dose would have affected next-day academic test scores.” (Howland,

Furthermore, 23% of students report frequent binge drinking, characterized as engaging in binge drinking on three or more occasions during the past 2 weeks” (100). Many students also report that they often just drink “to get drunk.” According to a recent USA Today article, the number of those who claim this reasoning for drinking excessively has climbed to nearly 50% as of 2001 (Marklein).

An article called Why Haven’t Colleges Stopped Binge Drinking from the journal, The Chronicle of Higher Education, provides information backing the stereotype about college students excessively partying. This article utilizes this stereotype to inform readers of the actual results. The information based on the research proves that approximately 40% of college students have consumed four or five drinks in a row in one night in the last 30 days. Binge drinking has become a popular aspect in college.

Breaking the cycle that under age and college students are inherent to becoming exposed to binge drinking at an excessive rate more than adults (DeSimone, 2010). Taking part in binge drinking can lead to prospective illegal and illicit behavior on the part of those parties involved, activities such as rape over alcoholic consumption, drinking and driving, are just some of the effects of the crisis of college drinking. Some of the most renowned institutions have had implications surrounding the problem of alcohol abuse (Meilman, 1994). Researchers from the center on addiction and substance abuse at Columbia University have concluded that, “Binge drinking is the number

“Let’s meet up and indulge in a little drinking this weekend!!” That statement is one heard among the college community nationwide nowadays. Binge drinking with others to gain new friendships, meet people, among other reasons, on college campuses is the thought process countless students believe today. “The Harvard School of Public Health found in 1993 that binge drinking is widespread on American campuses, particularly among members of fraternities and sororities (Bruffee, 1999).” If college students think binge drinking and partying is “cool” and the best way to meet new friends, they need to think again! Binge drinking is a career killer with terrible consequences. Finding and receiving the available support when it becomes out of control is the key to gaining a successful college education and finishing school with a degree.

Binge or excessive drinking is the most serious problem affecting social life, health, and education on college campuses today. Binge or excessive drinking by college students has become a social phenomena in which college students do not acknowledge the health risks that are involved with their excessive drinking habits. Furthermore college students do not know enough about alcohol in general and what exactly it does to the body or they do not pay attention to the information given to them. There needs to be a complete saturation on the campus and surrounding areas, including businesses and the media, expressing how excessive drinking is not attractive and not socially

The cliché of rampant drug and alcohol abuse during college is, unfortunately, well supported by reality. People in college are continuing to turn to alcohol and drug abuse and very dangerous levels. For example, The National Institute On Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism reported the following shocking statistics regarding college-age drinking:

What Causes Binge Drinking is an intriguing phenomenon that many college students take part in all across the country. The issue of binge drinking has been a problem on college campuses for decades. Binge drinking has many horrible effects, but the problem starts with the causes for it. If the causes could be controlled then the issue would not get out of hand. Many college students give different causes for their drinking problems, and experts on the subject have their explanations as well. The problem is, while growing through adolescence anything can become an excuse for drinking, such as! S Sits Thursday the day before Friday, we need to drink!” or, ! SS it! |s the last Wednesday of the semester, lets get some beer.