2008 Woodie Awards
College Alcohol Use: A Full or Empty Glass?
Francesca Bonaiuto Editor-in-Chief
Issue date: 4/28/05 Section: Special Report
- Page 1 of 1
Every semester has it's high's and low's with the amount of work load distributed to students, but the time is approaching again when students are being bombarded with end of the semester work and you can find them at the bar rather than the library.
Many students believe that they drink more during finals and graduation time because alcohol alleviates frustrations and helps with relaxation.
"There are many reasons to drink, but a lot of times I drink to forget about the thing that's bothering me," says Vincent Miata, Senior, Rye Brook, NY.
According to The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Research indicates that stressful events may profoundly influence the use of alcohol. The 2004 health survey of Undergraduate population highlights that 72.6% of students who drink, drink to relax or relieve tension.
People may drink as a means of coping with certain stressful feelings such as academic workload, financial problems, social anxiety, relationship problems, expectant pressures, etc. However, it is important to be aware that using alcohol in reaction to a stressful event or feelings may increase the risk of alcohol abuse.
There are several risk factors for the abuse of alcohol in response to stress:
* Using alcohol to 'deal' with stress
* Experiencing the stressful event or feeling as severe, chronic, intense or unavoidable
* Lacking social support or other resources for coping with stressful events or feelings
* Having a family history of drinking in response to stress
* Believing that alcohol will help to reduce stress
* Having unhealthy or other problematic drinking behavior preceeding the stressful event or feeling
* Feeling helpless or having no control over the stressful event or feeling
* Trying to avoid or numb feelings in reaction to the stressful event
"Last week, my hard-drive crashed with my senior project on it. I went to the packi and got a 30," says an anonymous source. "It wasn't the smart thing to do, but it distracted me for the time being."
Drinking to alleviate problems of a stressful situation can do more harm than good.
More research indicates that 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.
According to statistics from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), 58 percent of students drink when they are upset or stressed. Furthermore, students with low grades of D or F drink three times as much as those who earn A's.
Drinking on occasion is okay, but don't let it be a reason to cope with your daily stresses. Research concludes that people who use alcohol as a stress remedy have early signs of alcohol dependence even after college.
Incorporate alternative ways to cope with stress: Exercise, take a walk, take a bath, listen to some relaxing music, or call a friend.
Don't let your six-pack be your support group...
Many students believe that they drink more during finals and graduation time because alcohol alleviates frustrations and helps with relaxation.
"There are many reasons to drink, but a lot of times I drink to forget about the thing that's bothering me," says Vincent Miata, Senior, Rye Brook, NY.
According to The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Research indicates that stressful events may profoundly influence the use of alcohol. The 2004 health survey of Undergraduate population highlights that 72.6% of students who drink, drink to relax or relieve tension.
People may drink as a means of coping with certain stressful feelings such as academic workload, financial problems, social anxiety, relationship problems, expectant pressures, etc. However, it is important to be aware that using alcohol in reaction to a stressful event or feelings may increase the risk of alcohol abuse.
There are several risk factors for the abuse of alcohol in response to stress:
* Using alcohol to 'deal' with stress
* Experiencing the stressful event or feeling as severe, chronic, intense or unavoidable
* Lacking social support or other resources for coping with stressful events or feelings
* Having a family history of drinking in response to stress
* Believing that alcohol will help to reduce stress
* Having unhealthy or other problematic drinking behavior preceeding the stressful event or feeling
* Feeling helpless or having no control over the stressful event or feeling
* Trying to avoid or numb feelings in reaction to the stressful event
"Last week, my hard-drive crashed with my senior project on it. I went to the packi and got a 30," says an anonymous source. "It wasn't the smart thing to do, but it distracted me for the time being."
Drinking to alleviate problems of a stressful situation can do more harm than good.
More research indicates that 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.
According to statistics from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), 58 percent of students drink when they are upset or stressed. Furthermore, students with low grades of D or F drink three times as much as those who earn A's.
Drinking on occasion is okay, but don't let it be a reason to cope with your daily stresses. Research concludes that people who use alcohol as a stress remedy have early signs of alcohol dependence even after college.
Incorporate alternative ways to cope with stress: Exercise, take a walk, take a bath, listen to some relaxing music, or call a friend.
Don't let your six-pack be your support group...