Back to College and Alcohol – Information for Parents and Students
Our virtual outpatient programs can become an integral part of students’ real-life schedules.
Drinking and alcohol seem to go hand-in-hand when students go back to college in the fall. Keggers, sorority and fraternity meet-and-greets, and other drinking rituals are understood to be a part of the college experience. In fact, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (updated 2024) of full-time college students ages 18-22 determined that 49% drank alcohol during the past month. 29% binge drank, and some college students engaged in “high-intensity” drinking. High-intensity drinking is defined as consuming twice the amount of alcohol in a binge (10 drinks on one occasion for men, 8 drinks for women).
Consequences of Harmful and Underage Drinking
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) cites several consequences of harmful and underage drinking.
Consequences Include:
- Death – about 1,500 students die from unintentional injuries related to alcohol each year.
- Assault – almost 700,000 students are assaulted each year by another student who has been drinking.
- Sexual Assault – According to the NIAAA, “Research continues in order to better understand the relationships between alcohol and sexual assault among college students.”
- Academic Problems and Expulsion – 1 in 4 students report having academic difficulties due to alcohol.
- Addiction – About 14% of college students meet the criteria for past-year alcohol use disorder.
For More Information, Read the NIAAA Fact Sheet:
Alcohol’s Effect on Health – Harmful and Underage College Drinking
For Information on Research and Prevention from the NIAAA’s website, College Drinking, Changing the Culture:
College Drinking, Changing the Culture
Back to College and Alcohol
At Sanford Behavioral Health, we work with colleges and universities to educate, promote collegiate recovery programs, and offer treatment for those with alcohol use disorders. Our virtual intensive outpatient programs (3 hours per day/3 days per week) can become an integral part of students’ real-life schedules. Virtual outpatient therapy can also be utilized to manage alcohol use and develop tools to navigate sober college life.
More Reading Material from the Sanford Behavioral Health Library:
Sanford Founder and President Rae Green, JD, LPC, CAADC, answers a college student’s burning question. Will a family history of addiction make her more susceptible to addiction?
Ask Rae: College Student with a Family History of Alcoholism
Dear Rae:
I am going back to college this month and have been worrying about whether I am genetically more likely to become addicted to drugs and alcohol. I have been vaping weed most mornings this summer and drink hard seltzer. There is a family history of alcoholism, and I worry I might be susceptible to addiction or that weed may be a “gateway” drug. I played sports, worked a summer job, and got good grades in high school. I also feel like my schedule in college will minimize my use naturally. But could you explain the genetic issues with addiction, please? Am I destined to become an alcoholic? B [Read More…]
Sanford Marketing Director and person in recovery, Marilyn Spiller, writes about the burgeoning trend among the younger set.
Damp or Dry Lifestyle? The Trend Toward Sobriety
The sober, curious, or “damp lifestyle” is the choice to be mindful and practice moderation when drinking alcohol. This includes avoiding binge drinking and overconsumption of alcoholic beverages. The concept is not new, although the trending phrase “damp lifestyle” is. The self-help group Moderation Management (MM) has been around since 1994, allowing continued but controlled drinking. MM is a “lay-led non-profit dedicated to reducing the harm caused by the abuse of alcohol.” According to MM, 30% of those who join their group go on to abstinence-based programs. [Read More...]
From the Sanford Library, a new study looks at drinking patterns, concluding that not just how much you drink but the way you drink impacts liver disease.
Binge Drinking and Your Liver
How does binge drinking impact the liver? Let’s start with a definition. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), binge drinking is “a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration to 0.08%.” This usually happens if a woman has four alcoholic drinks and a man five drinks within two hours. A drink is defined as 12 fl oz of beer, five fl oz of wine, or 1.5 fl oz of distilled spirits (gin, vodka, whiskey). [Read More...]
Visit Sanford Behavioral Health online today to find out more about our comprehensive treatment programs. Also, if you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, don’t wait to change your life – click the link below to speak with an admissions specialist.
