March 24, 2023 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Spring Break Is Here: That Means College Binge Drinking Increases:

By Gary Stromberg

More than half of the teenagers in the United States have tried alcohol. With spring break in full swing, this situation is particularly troubling because so many young people end up binge drinking.

Binge drinking – typically defined as men consuming five or more drinks and women four or more in about two hours – has reached epidemic levels across the nation.

In a Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2011 survey of college students, 36 percent reported they participated in binge drinking. Other estimates range to almost double that figure.

For college students, many of whom are underage drinkers, these statistics can be especially destructive.

It is estimated that more than 1,000 college students die each year in alcohol-related incidents, and alcohol is involved in nine out of every 10 reported sexual assaults on college campuses.

We also know that underage drinking can severely impact the growing brain, which is still developing until around age 25.

There are a host of other factors to consider. Increased alcohol consumption can trigger aggression in susceptible students, which can lead to property damage, encounters with the police or even violence toward themselves or others. Studies also show that binge drinkers are much more likely than non-bingers to take other illicit drugs such as marijuana, amphetamines, ecstasy and cocaine due to their lowered inhibition.

When it comes to college age binge drinking behavior, the problem isn’t always the alcohol itself, it’s the decision-making when drinking too much. A blacked out or otherwise impaired person is much more prone to having accidents, acting aggressively or engaging in risky behavior.

Mark Baumgartner, head of the new Betty Ford Outpatient Treatment Center in West Los Angeles, stated that, “Underage drinking significantly increases the risk for alcohol addiction, as modern brain imaging technology and research confirms that the brain continues development through the mid-20s. And young adults, even without adding alcohol, show an increased propensity for novelty seeking, risk-taking and engagement in impulsive behaviors before fully thinking through consequences. Adding these risk factors to the almost unrestricted freedom of many Spring Break settings, and combining it all with the decreased inhibitions that come with excessive drinking, can be lethal combination.”

Research indicates there are proven ways to prevent binge drinking. According to the book “Preventing Binge Drinking on College Campuses,” two of the most effective methods are individual intervention and community intervention. Individual intervention creates and maintains a proactive, campus-wide system of identifying potential students who may need help and then providing them easy access to the appropriate level of treatment. Community intervention is aimed at changing access to alcohol in surrounding communities through such strategies as increased enforcement of minimum drinking age laws; restriction on alcohol retail suppliers; increased prices and excises taxes on alcoholic beverages; and the formation of campus and community coalitions to prevent alcohol abuse.

Hearing the same message over and over again about the dangers of “binge drinking” can start to sound empty, but the fact is, it’s a very real problem that remains on the rise. You needn’t look much further than the nightly news to find examples of binge drinking and all the dangers and misery they can bring to the college campuses in your own backyard.

Colleges continue to work hard to address the issues surrounding the binge drinking epidemic and hopefully implement some real, lasting changes. The most successful efforts at combating binge drinking will include a healthy mix of prevention, intervention and treatment targeting individuals, the student body as a whole and the larger community.

Further help or information is available at www.bettyfordcenter.org.

in News
Related Posts

Santa Monica Mountains Largest Ever Restoration Project Nears Completion After 7,000 Hours of Volunteer Work

March 24, 2023

March 24, 2023

Final planting event will be held Saturday, March 25 at 9 a.m. for the park’s largest ever restoration project After...

California Appeals Court Rules Uber and Lyft Can Classify Drivers as Independent Contractors

March 24, 2023

March 24, 2023

Proposition 22 exempted ride-share companies from certain labor laws, court rules in favor of the companies By Sam Catanzaro ​​A...

Film Review – Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre

March 24, 2023

March 24, 2023

FILM REVIEWOPERATION FORTUNE: Ruse de GuerreRated R114 MinutesReleased March 3rd Now that the season of weighty Oscar contender films is...

Santa Monica Uses Innovative Water Recycling Facility to Capture and Store Rainwater

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

City’s Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project reducing reliance on imported water and sets a model for future projects Santa Monica has...

Shuttered Santa Monica Loews Hotel to Rebrand and Reopen as a Regent Hotel

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Hotel’s new operator announces plans for $4 million renovation, including rebranding and upgrading accessibility for guests with disabilities By Dolores...

Three Arrested for Identity Theft, Possession of Stolen Property, and Grand Theft in Santa Monica

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Suspects found with over 20 stolen cellphones, credit cards, and identification Three individuals were arrested in Santa Monica for identity...

Proposal for Improved Communication With Street Vendors Sparks Contentious Debate in City Council Meeting

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Councilmembers divided over proposal calling for City Manager to engage in meaningful consultation with authorized vendors regarding sidewalk vending policies...

Former Bank Building in Santa Monica Becomes a Food Destination with Addition of Katsu Bar

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Katsu Bar joins Paderia and Oakberry in the transformation of the 3032 Wilshire building By Dolores Quintana Katsu Bar has...

Survey: Should Officials Remove Barriers to Outdoor Dining?

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed the way we live our lives, and one of the most significant impacts has been...

Gasolina Cafe Owner, Sandra Cordero, to Open New Tapas Bar in Santa Monica

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Tapas bar expected to open late spring in former Heroic Italian space at 516 Santa Monica Boulevard  Sandra Cordero, the...

California’s AB 1217 Could Supersede Costly Outdoor Dining Permits Proposed by Municipalities

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

Legislation would preempt local ordinances and preserve regulatory flexibility for struggling neighborhood restaurants By Sam Catanzaro A new bill proposed...

Emerging Artist Jesse Liu Opens First-Ever Exhibition in Venice Gallery

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

“Spring Fever” currently on display at Yiwei Gallery By Keemia Zhang Local artist Jesse Liu has opened her first solo...

Santa Monica Place Invites LGBTQIA+ Artisans to Apply for Made With PRIDE Marketplace

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

Partnering with Streetlet, the marketplace will take place each weekend in June and showcase local goods made in Southern California....

Santa Monica Councilmember Phil Brock Appointed to National League of Cities Council on Youth, Education, and Families

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

Brock to collaborate with group of local leaders to develop and guide programs for communities across the country Santa Monica...

Santa Monica Receives $70,000 Donation From Kiwanis Charities for Scoreboards in Two Parks

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

Donation will fund the installation of new scoreboards at Historic Belmar Park and Los Amigos Park The Santa Monica City...