Binge Drinking on College Campuses Reaches All-Time High

School is finally out for summer, but it’s never too early to warn about the dangers of binge drinking on college campuses. Binge drinking is the excessive intake of alcohol over short time periods. The typical binge involves gulping down three to five drinks in around two hours. Therefore, young adults become impaired with blood alcohol levels well above the 0.08 legal limit.

College students are particularly vulnerable to binge drinking because of peer pressure and high stress. Campus culture often pressures students to party hard to fit in with peers. Some also use beer or liquor to inhibit their insecurities while meeting new people. All of these reasons have contributed to binge drinking reaching an all-time high at universities.

Scary Statistics on Binge Drinking on College Campuses

The National Institutes of Health reported in 2015 that 26.9 percent of Americans age 18 or older had a drinking binge in the last month. Around 5.1 million underage drinkers binge at least once monthly. Sixty percent of college students now imbibe alcohol regularly. Plus, two-thirds of them drink excessively. ABC News found that the college binge drinking rate has risen by 45 percent since 1998. Nearly one in five undergraduates now meet criteria for alcohol use disorder.

Risks of the Increasing Binge Drinking on College Campuses

Drinking to have a good time can turn ugly if you’re not careful. Students who binge drink are six times more likely to face academic trouble. Approximately 64 percent report having missed a class and fallen behind. The NIAAA shows over 150,000 students diagnosed with medical conditions like liver damage. Binge drinking raises the threat of unplanned pregnancy from unprotected sex. Moreover, students could stain their driving record forever with a DUI.

Even worse, the U.S. News & World Report estimated 1,800 college-age deaths from alcohol poisoning in 2011. Around 600,000 accidental injuries are caused by binge drinking on college campuses yearly, too. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center states that 72 percent of rapes occur under the influence of alcohol. About 1.5 percent of college suicide attempts are also blamed on binge drinking. There’s a truly dark side to the climb in excessive drinking on university grounds.

Consider Alcohol Abuse Treatment at Beaches Recovery

Have you or a loved one lost control of alcohol consumption? Getting help now at a quality treatment center is vital to avoid severe, long-term consequences. Beaches Recovery offers accredited young adult rehab programs in FL to reach your sobriety goals. We use a holistic approach with many residential and outpatient options, including:

• Alcohol detox at Tides Edge
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• 12 step program for addiction
• Fresh Start DUI program
• Mindfulness based treatment
• Hiking therapy
• Anger management

Remember that binge drinking on college campuses isn’t cool–it’s unsafe. Beaches Recovery welcomes students into alcohol treatment to ensure their university years are their best. Call us today at 866.605.0532 to change your drinking habits for a brighter future now and after graduation.